STAR cagers rule Coke invitational

The Philippine STAR outmuscled Red Bull Barako in the shaded area in the fourth quarter as it pulled off an 85-83 victory yesterday to clinch the Coke Light Invitational basketball tournament crown before a small but loud Saturday crowd at the Makati Coliseum.

Jon de Guzman and Roy Canlas were the source of inside strength of the STARmen as the two combined for 13 points in the homestretch in a win that erased the stigma of their subpar effort in last year’s STAR Friendship League.

Vir Roque started it all for the host team as he exploded with 14 of his 18 markers in the first period while Chris dela Cruz opened things up in the shaded area with his long range bombs in the third quarter.

Defense also was a big factor in the triumph that avenged the STARmen’s 76-96 loss to Red Bull Barako in the elimination round with Fil-Am PBA aspirant Francis Raushmayer finishing with a whopping 39-point output.

But Raushmayer found a different STAR crew yesterday as rock solid Mario Geocada and Alfred Bartolome shadowed the Fil-Am all-game long particularly in the fourth quarter when the two blanked the Red Bull Barako hotshot after pouring in 21 markers in the first three quarters.

Roque received the MVP award in the simple awarding ceremony attended by Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. president Genju Lapez, Red Bull top honchos Jaime and George Chua, San Miguel Corp.’s Serge Alombro and The STAR’s Miguel and Kevin Belmonte.

In the battle for third place, CAR, Inc. unleashed a third quarter storm as it stunned PLDT, 85-67, to clinch the second runner-up trophy.

In the exhibition match between San Miguel’s All Star teams, South edged North, 84-81. — Joey Villar