CEBU, Philippines - 3R Audio '98 got the biggest scare of its life before pulling off a 55-54 squeaker over Dimsum Frito 2003 in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Tuesday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Rex Millan had 14 points, Erick Andrew So added 11 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Paul Timothy So chipped in 10 points and three rebounds for Class '98, which fought tooth and nail against the gritty Class 2003 until the final seconds of the contest.
Class '98 was ahead by only seven points after three quarters, 32-39, but parried a decisive endgame attack by Class 2003 on the way to notch its seventh win in 12 starts.
Joey Catipay tallied 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals but couldn't do anything as Class 2003 suffered its only third loss in 10 games.
In the main game, Harold James Tan and Josepj Baluyos, Jr. each scored 17 even as they also combined for 21 rebounds and three assists as Fil-Ann 2009 annihilated First ACY Shipping Corp. 2006, 61-37, to improve its record to 2-8, while dropping its victim to 2-9.
Class 2009 actually trailed by five at the end of the first period, 12-17, but held Class 2006 to a matchstick in the second quarter while unloading 20 points to turn the tide of the match in its favor at halftime, 32-18. The Fil-Ann-backed squad never looked back from there onwards to hack out its most lopsided win of the season, so far.
The scores
First game
Class '98 (55) - Millan 14, E. So 11, P. So 10, Yap 8, Santos 6, Evangelista 4, Co 2
Class 2003 (54) - Catipay 16, Yankee 10, Veneracion 8, Cuizon 5, W. Tan 5, H. Tan 4, Uy 4, Lague 2
Second game
Class 2009 (61) - H.J. Tan 17, Baluyos 17, Miranda Sy 11, Sy 8, Suazo 6, Tuñacao 2
Class 2006 (37) - Tan 11, Tan 7, Yap 6, Nuñez 6, Rosello 5, Miranda Sy 2 — EBV (FREEMAN)