CECABA All-Stars to challenge another Manila-based ballclub

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association All-Stars hope to bounce back from a heart-breaking defeat to Kiao Ching Athletic Club as they go up against another tough Manila-based squad, the Kiao Tiong-Philippine Cultural College Alumni ballclub, in an exhibition game today at 6:30 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum.

The CECABA stars put up a gallant stand, but fell short in the end against Kiao Ching during their highly-physical and tension-filled match last week at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

The Easternians ovehauled a 12-point deficit early on, then built an 11-point lead in the third period but lost steam in the windup on the way to drop a 83-91 decision to the champions of the 2012 World Overseas Chinese Veterans Basketball Invitational Tournament.

In that 'not-so friendly' encounter, CECABA top hitman Chester C. Cokaliong powered his way to a scintillating 24-point finish laced with seven 3-pointers and a 3-of-4 shooting from the stripe despite being manned by Kiao Ching the entire 40-minute battle.

This time, the pressure would be heavier on Cokaliong, a 15-time All-Star MVP and 22-time 3-point shootout champion, as they will be playing without three key players. Man mountain Richard Yu of Batch '88 and Shaun Christopher Wang of Class '96 are both injured, while big man Sammy Sia of Class '48 is out to attend their 30th batch reunion.

CECABA, however, has commissioned the services of Earn Saguindel, a former collegiate standout who had a stint with the PBA D-League, to bolster their offensive arsenal as they seek to improve their overall record of 21 wins, seven losses and one draw in 29 exhibition matches, so far.

Cokaliong and Saguindel will go into hardcourt action alongside Joel Chan and Wilson Yu of Batch '85, Dean Dy Teves and Joseph James Yu of Batch '95, Mark Ryan Babor of  Batch  '96, Ryan Alexis Mendez of Batch '89, Mark Bukiron of Batch '99 and Chester's vastly-improved younger brother Christopher Cokaliong of  Batch '83.

They will slug it out with the Kiao Tiong ballclub composed of Antonio Koa, Arthur Lee, Charlie Ngan, Pacifico Tan , Tyron Tan,  Wilson Carta Yu, Fedrico Magante, Jr., Jun Emilio Ong, Raffy Alejandro, Wilbert Yu, and Ramon Ng.—EBV (FREEMAN)