Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA)

[gameface_one]

CECABA division finals blast off this pm
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 05/04/2006

Four teams slug it out today at the start of the best-of-three division finals series of the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 8th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

In the first game at 7:30 pm, Armour Wood '81/85 tangles with Asian Home Appliance '89/93 for the Division I crown, right before defending champion Big Boss '96 tackles Rocket Battery '95 at 9 pm in their own race-to-2 showdown for the Division II title.

Class '95 barged into the division finals courtesy of a win by default over a no-show JRJ Enterprises 2000.

Actually, Class '95 and '96 figured in a three-way tie with Hannah's Cakes and Decors 2004 on identical 2-1 slates at the end of the semifinal round.

However, Class '95 and '96 earned the right to clash for the championship by virtue of their superior tiebreak points applying the traditional Olympic quotient system. Class 2004 was badly hurt by its 60-76 loss to Class '96.

Class '81/85, on the other hand, completed a three-game semis sweep after pulling off a spine-chilling 85-84 victory over Young Builders '91.

Edvin Kaw topped Class '81/85 with a season-best 28 points, while Joel Chan and Stephen Lee chipped in 26 and 15 markers, respectively.

Tommy Yu unloaded a season-best 31 points to pace Class '91.

The scores

Class '81/85 (85) - Kaw 28, Chan 26, Lee 15, Palomas 6, J. Yu 5, F. Tan 3, W. Yu 2

Class 1991 (84) - Yu 31, Borromeo 17, Co 14, Go 10, De la Torre 6, Lim 6

[gameface_one]

Class '96 bags Division II title; Class '89 /93 forges rubber
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 05/09/2006

Defending champion Big Boss '96 completed a two-game sweep over Rocket Battery '95 with a 79-55 rout in Game 2 to clinch the Division II crown and advance into the finals of the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 8th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup on Sunday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

It was the other way around in Division I best-of-three titular showdown as Asian Home Appliance '89/93, despite playing without its top gunner Allan Leith Ting, shocked Armour Wood '81/85 via close 60-58 decision to live and fight for another day.

Asian Home Appliance '89/93 and Armour Wood '81/85 will settle things out in the deciding Game 3 this Thursday starting at 7:30pm , with the winner slugging it out against Class '96 in a best-of-three series for the 2006 CECABA crown.

Wilby Tan became the man of the hour for Class '89/93 as he unloaded a season-best 26 points, eight in the first quarter that towed Class '89/93 to an early 18-12 lead.

Ryan Alexis Mendez chipped in 15 markers for Class '89/93, which protected a six-point edge after three quarters, 48-42, and held on to a crucial victory.

Joel Chan topped Class '81/85 with 18 points, while Stephen Lee, after posting a season-high 32 points in their 85-79 win during the series opener, was limited to only 14 points this time.

Wilson Yu added 12 points for Class '81/85. The missing link was ace slotman Edvin Kaw, who was handcuffed to a season-low three points.

Earlier, Shaun Christopher Wang and Gerald Go cashed in 16 points apiece, while Dreyfuss Ang and Rogelio Donayre combined for 23 markers for Class '96, which ripped the game apart with a

39-22 advantage at the turn.

Class '96 launched its third wave of attack, 24-24, in the third quarter to mount an imposing 27-point bulge, 63-36, that kept Class '95 wobbling the rest of the way.

Dean Dy Teves of Class '95 was totally not saddened by their loss as he scored 17 points to exactly breach the 1,000-point plateau. Donald Anthony Ting had 15 points, while Archie Gue added 13 in a losing cause.

The scores

First game

Class 1996 (79) - Wang 16, G. Go 16, Ang 13, Donayre 10, Babor 7, Ong 7, A. Chua 5, G. Chua 3, Baron 2

Class 1995 (55) - Teves 17, Ting 15, Gue, 13, Yu 8, Tiu 2 Second game

Class '89/93 (60) - Tan 26, Mendez 15, Ng 7, Ong 5, Chua 4, Ting 3

Class '81/85 (5 - Chan 18, Lee 14, Yu 12, Wong 9, Kaw 3, Tan 2

[gameface_one]

Ting wins 2006 CECABA scoring title; Ricky Yu dominates rebounding department
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 05/20/2006

Donald Anthony Ting of Class '95 emerged as the scoring champion in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association's 8th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup.

Ting topped the scoring leaderboard with an average of 22.4 points per game, followed by Anwar Satina of Class '94 and Ruben Yap Jnr of Class '99 with a 21.9 and 21.7 ppg clip, respectively.

Rounding up the league's top 10 leading scorers this season are Christian Espada of Class 2004 (21.67 ppg), John Bryan Lo of Class 2000 (18.8 ppg), Wellington Yu of Class '94 (18.5 ppg), Stephen Tan of Class '83 (18.43 ppg), Kent Uy of Class 2005 (18.2 ppg), Robinson Yap of Class '98 (17.6 ppg), and Philip Lua of Class 2005 (17.4 ppg).

Ting also came in fifth in steals with a norm of 3.11 steals per game.

Lua, on the other hand, lorded it over in the steals department with 4.3 spg.

Christopher Boltron of Class 2002 is the "Tapal King" with 2.57 blocks per game.

Completing the top 10 block shot leaders are Robinson Yap (2.3 bpg), Warren William Yu of Class '92 (2.14 bpg), Vicente Ty III of Class '91 (2.0 bpg), Edison Ong of Class '93 (1.75 bpg), Dean Dy Teves of Class '95 (1.44 bpg), Wellington Yu (1.4 bpg), Richard Yu of Class '88 (1.38 bpg), Christian Espada (1.22bpg), and Nelson Uy of Class '70s (1.17 bpg).

Man mountain Richard Yu dominated the rebounding with 15.5 rebounds per game. Breathing down Yu's neck is Joel Chan of Class '85 with 15.25 rpg and Christopher Boltron with 14.71 rpg.

Samuel Sia of Class '84 is fourth with 12.88 rpg followed by Wellington Yu (12.4 rpg), Danny Calagos of Class '70s (11.86 rpg), Eric Cabana of Class 2001 (11.7 rpg), Robinson Yap (11.5 rpg), Ruben Yap Jnr (11.1 rpg), and Mark Ryan Babor of Class '96 (10.67 rpg).

Joel Chan is the best in defensive rebounding with 11.5 drpg, while Eric Cabana of Class 2001 shone the brightest in offensive rebounding with 6.3 orpg.

[gameface_one]

Cokaliong, Satina and Uy rule in CECABA shootout
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 05/24/2006

Dreaded marksman Chester Cokaliong of Class '78 showed no signs of rustiness in his comeback from a five-month hiatus as he teamed up with Joselito Lee to top the 2-ball contest and then settled for first runner-up honors in the 3-point shootout in last Sunday's 2006 Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) Fun Day at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Cokaliong and Lee almost did not qualify for the championship round as they finished last in the elimination with 28 points. They, however, waxed hot in the finals by drilling in 49 points to clinch the title.

Kristopher Lee, coincidentally Joselito's son, and Philip Lua of Class 2005 finished second with 37 points, while Dreyfuss Ang and Rex Alinson of Class '96 wound up third with 36 points. The fourth place went to Anthony Chua and Anwar Satina of Class '94 with 31 points.

It was Cokaliong's second 2-ball crown in CECABA - the first was with Wilty Yap in 2003 - and six overall in his career.

The rest he won with different partners in the 2003 Inter-Shipping season and in exhibition matches - all last year- against the Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA), Punta Princesa Sports Association (PPSA), and Don Bosco College Alumni Basketball Association (DBCABA.

In the 3-point shootout, Cokaliong's 10th crown remained elusive as he just settled runner-up to Anwar Satina of Class '94.

Satina made only nine points in the elimination, but shot 17 points in the finals to frustrate Cokaliong, who just equaled his elimination round output of 12 points in the finals to duplicate his first runner-up finish in 2002.

Cokaliong, who boasts of nine 3-point championship titles and six runner-up finishes, was followed by Stephen Lee of Class '81 with 10 points, while Kristopher Lloyd Miranda Sy of Class 2002 landed at fourth with nine points.

Nelson Uy of Class '70s also had his share of the spotlight as he ruled the free throw shooting contest also in come-behind-fashion.

Uy barely made it to the finals with only two points in the elimination, but drilled in seven consecutive free throws in the championship round to take home the crown.

It was Uy's second free throw shooting title – the first was during the 2003 Friendship Games against the Cebu Tourism Executives.

Rogelio Donayre of Class '96 copped the second place honors, while Zotico tan of Class '67 and defending champion John Bryan Lo of Class 2000 wound up third and fourth, respectively.

[gameface_one]

Sizzling start for JBA in Exec Cup hooplah Survives CECABA All-Stars; SHABA and Team Barkada rout foes
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 05/30/2006

The Jaycees Basketball Association-Crunchicken/Purcia Transport dismantled a 14-point deficit in the third quarter, but still needed an extra five-minute period before disposing off the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECACA) All-Stars, 91-90, at the start of the 2006 Executive's Cup basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Archie Coros did a one-man show in carrying JBA to victory as he charted 43 points, including 12 in a tide-turning rally in the final 10 minutes of the regulation period.

James Lloyd Noel and Edmund Odulio added 15 markers apiece for JBA, which trailed by 14 points twice, the last was at 41-55 midway in the third canto.

The Pilipinas Shell-sponsored CECABA All-Stars were still ahead by 11 entering the final period, 65-54, but the JBA stalwarts staged a blistering 16-4 run to take the lead for the first time, 70-69.

A basket by Noel made it 75-73 for JBA, but Edvin Kaw of the CECABA All-Stars hit a crucial shot to tie the count at 75-all, thus, sending the game into overtime.

It was an all-JBA show in the extension, but the CECABA All-Stars threatened at 88-90 on a triple by Chester Cokaliong and two free throws by Richard Yu with 17 seconds left in overtime.

In the ensuing play, the JBA committed a passing error at the inbounds, but the CECABA All-Stars couldn't pull through as Cokaliong's probable game-winning 3-point shot just rattled in-and-out of the rim.

Still, the CECABA All-Stars had a chance to forge another overtime or even steal the game with 11 seconds to go, but Kaw made a passing error to Richard Yu underneath the basket that sealed their fate.

Five players cashed in double figures for the CECABA All-Stars led by Yu's 19 points, but the team effort they've shown was not enough as they failed to exact vengeance on JBA, the only team which they failed to beat last season.

Kaw finished with 13 points, while Sammy Sia, Stephen Tan, and Wilson Yu combined for 33 points in a losing cause.

In the other games, the Sacred Heart Alumni Basketball Association (SHABA)-Cebu Home Builders drubbed Springdale PTA-Pepsi Max, 67-44, while Team Barkada capped the season-opening triple-header with a 92-61 thrashing of City Sports Club-Sirlitz/Skylark.

The scores

First game

SHABA (67) - T. Lim 28, N. Lim 11, Young 8, Tan 7, Co 7, Siao 2, Yap 2, Roxas 2

Springdale (44) - Sta. Maria 26, Mercado 8, Del Mar 8, Villacin 2 Second game

JBA (91) - Coros 43, Odulio 15, Noel 15, Jayme 7, Chua 6, Rosal 2, Cortes 2, Purcia 1

CECABA All-Stars (90) - R. Yu 19, Kaw 13, Sia 12, Tan 11, W. Yu 10, Cokaliong 9, Chan 6, Tan 6, Cokaliong 4 Third game

Barkada (92) - Lim 20, Rama 17, Zamora 10, Yu 10, De la Calzada 9, Molina 8, Mante 7, A. Guardo 5, J. Guardo 4, Borres 2

City Sports Club (61) - Yeo 30, Gajudo 10, Sarmineto 8, Sanchez 7, Lumapas 2, Tan 2, Te 2

[gameface_one]

Cabañero's endgame heroics steers Insular Life to 2-0 start
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 06/08/2006

Aikan Cabañero poured in 10 of his 14 points in a crippling fourth-quarter rally to spur league newcomer Insular Life to a 58-44 win over the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) Selection-Runway Tires, its second straight in the 2006 Executive's Cup basketball tournament on Tuesday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Later, the M. Lhuillier-sponsored San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA) got up from a season-opening blunder with a merciless 113-87 rout of the Punta Princesa Sports Association (PPSA)- I Cooler Marketing.

Cabañero, who shot 7-of-10 from the field, also had eight rebounds and a block, while Rodolfo Romanos added markers and four caroms as Insular Life earned a share of the lead with Team Barkada on identical 2-0 win-loss cards.

For three quarters, the Insular Life stalwarts had a tough time pulling away from the hard-fighting CECABA Selection until Cabañero turned red-hot and masterminded a sizzling 24-14 spurt in the windup that resulted into a 14-point rout.

Insular Life face an acid today as it clashes with the Chester Cokaliong-led CECABA All-Stars at 7:30 pm, right before the Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA)-Crunchiken/Purcia Transport takes on Club Monday-Gatorade in the main game at 9 pm.

Rey Kenneth Ng was the only bright spot for the CECABA Selection (1-1) with a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds.

In the other game, cat-quick guard Edwin Banaag had 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while star center Paul Abais chipped in 16 points on top of nine rebounds for SCBHABA, which kept PPSA at bay since taking a commanding 51-32 edge at halftime.

Dean Wong added 14 markers, Virgil Pua contributed 13 points and a season-high eight assists, while Dindo Sausa donated 11 points and four rebounds underscoring SCBHABA's balanced offensive.

SCBHABA now holds a 1-1 record in a tie with PPSA, which was paced by Esteban Cesar Ortega with season-highs 29 points and 15 rebounds. Enrico Espinoza had 19 points spiked with three triples, while Vicente Villar Jr. also had three 3-pointers in his 11-point finish albeit for a losing cause.

The scores

First game

Insular Life (5 - Cabañero 14, Romanos 11, Quindao 8, Eduave 5, LLanos 4, De Guzman 4, Colubio 4, Villegas 3, Danlag 3, Monisit 2

CECABA Selection (44) - Ng 16, K. Lim 6, R. Lim 6, E. Lim 5, P. Lim 5, Villamor 2, Tanco 2, Po 2

Second game

SCBHABA (113) - Banaag 17, Abais 16, Wong 14, Pua 13, Sausa 11, Amores 8, Caballero 8, Diaz 6, Monsanto 5, Aznar 4, Zanoria 4, Villamor 3, Bacaltos 2, Angan 2

PPSA-I Cooler (87) - Ortega 29, Espinoza 19, Villar 11, Lim 11, Hernandez 5, Ondiano 2, Aldemita 2

[gameface_one]

Cabañero's endgame heroics steers Insular Life to 2-0 start
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 06/08/2006

Aikan Cabañero poured in 10 of his 14 points in a crippling fourth-quarter rally to spur league newcomer Insular Life to a 58-44 win over the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) Selection-Runway Tires, its second straight in the 2006 Executive's Cup basketball tournament on Tuesday at the City Sports Club Cebu gym.

Later, the M. Lhuillier-sponsored San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA) got up from a season-opening blunder with a merciless 113-87 rout of the Punta Princesa Sports Association (PPSA)- I Cooler Marketing.

Cabañero, who shot 7-of-10 from the field, also had eight rebounds and a block, while Rodolfo Romanos added markers and four caroms as Insular Life earned a share of the lead with Team Barkada on identical 2-0 win-loss cards.

For three quarters, the Insular Life stalwarts had a tough time pulling away from the hard-fighting CECABA Selection until Cabañero turned red-hot and masterminded a sizzling 24-14 spurt in the windup that resulted into a 14-point rout.

Insular Life face an acid today as it clashes with the Chester Cokaliong-led CECABA All-Stars at 7:30 pm, right before the Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA)-Crunchiken/Purcia Transport takes on Club Monday-Gatorade in the main game at 9 pm.

Rey Kenneth Ng was the only bright spot for the CECABA Selection (1-1) with a season-high 16 points and nine rebounds.

In the other game, cat-quick guard Edwin Banaag had 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while star center Paul Abais chipped in 16 points on top of nine rebounds for SCBHABA, which kept PPSA at bay since taking a commanding 51-32 edge at halftime.

Dean Wong added 14 markers, Virgil Pua contributed 13 points and a season-high eight assists, while Dindo Sausa donated 11 points and four rebounds underscoring SCBHABA's balanced offensive.

SCBHABA now holds a 1-1 record in a tie with PPSA, which was paced by Esteban Cesar Ortega with season-highs 29 points and 15 rebounds. Enrico Espinoza had 19 points spiked with three triples, while Vicente Villar Jr. also had three 3-pointers in his 11-point finish albeit for a losing cause.

The scores

First game

Insular Life (5 - Cabañero 14, Romanos 11, Quindao 8, Eduave 5, LLanos 4, De Guzman 4, Colubio 4, Villegas 3, Danlag 3, Monisit 2

CECABA Selection (44) - Ng 16, K. Lim 6, R. Lim 6, E. Lim 5, P. Lim 5, Villamor 2, Tanco 2, Po 2

Second game

SCBHABA (113) - Banaag 17, Abais 16, Wong 14, Pua 13, Sausa 11, Amores 8, Caballero 8, Diaz 6, Monsanto 5, Aznar 4, Zanoria 4, Villamor 3, Bacaltos 2, Angan 2

PPSA-I Cooler (87) - Ortega 29, Espinoza 19, Villar 11, Lim 11, Hernandez 5, Ondiano 2, Aldemita 2

[gameface_one]

Barkada edges CECABA Selection
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 07/11/2006

Pablo Yu calmly sank a pair of pressure-packed free throws in the dying moments of the game to lift Team Barkada to a 64-61 win over the Runway Tires-backed Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) Selection in the 2006 Executives Cup last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Before Yu canned his charities, the CECABA Selection had a chance to grab the lead when the score stood at 62-61, but Melton Dy flubbed a probable tide-turning free throws.

In the ensuing play, Yu was fouled and the former top collegiate and commercial coach in the local hoopdom showed iron nerves in converting his freebies that caused his teammates to leap for joy.

Yu finished with nine points, four rebounds and two steals, but it was Danilo Lim who topped Barkada with 16 points.

Reynold Zamora added 14 points, 11 rebounds, and season-highs nine assists, nine steals and four blocks, while Richard Molina contributed 11 points and 10 caroms as Barkada forged a four-way tie at second place with the CECABA All-Stars, Insular Life, and Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) with similar 5-2 win-loss cards.

It was a heartbreaking setback for CECABA Selection, which badly needed to win to advance into the quarterfinal round.

Rey Kenneth Ng had 12 points followed by Dy with 11. Danny Calagos added 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, but still they fell short in the end as CECABA Selection dropped to 2-5.

In the other game, Springdale PTA- Pepsi Max blew hot and cold before cruising to a 78-68 triumph over City Sports Club-Sirlitz/Skylark.

Springdale PTA raced to a hot 24-12 start, but toned down offensively in the second canto, allowing City Sports Club to pull within three at the intermission, 33-36.

Springdale PTA, however, went back to usual business to regain a double-digit advantage for good, 57-46.

Chris Sta. Maria had another explosive night finishing with 29 points on top of 13 rebounds. Peter Sta. Maria ably backed him up with 14 points as Springdale improved to 3-4.

Alex Yeo fired 28 points and Gilbert Gajudo finished with 16 points and 18 rebounds but their efforts were to no avail as City Sports Club remained winless in seven games, so far.

The scores

First game

Barkada (64) - Lim 16, Zamora 14, Molina 11, Yu 9, De la Calzada 6, Mante 6, Borres 2

CECABA Selection (61) - Ng 12, Dy 11, Calagos 10, Uy 8,K. Lim 7, Villamor 6, P. Lim 3, Po 2, E. Lim 2

Second game

Springdale PTA (7 - C. Sta. Maria 29, P. Sta. Maria 14, Adolfo 10, Majam 8, Lim 7, De los Santos 4, Mercado 4, Mangubat 2

City Sports Club (6 - Yeo 28, Gajudo 16, Malixi 10, Tan 4, Sarmiento 4, Tan 2, Boholst 2, Sanchez 2

[gameface_one]

Cokaliong stars anew for CECABA All-Stars
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 07/18/2006

The Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association All-Stars once again rode on Chester Cokaliong's explosive outside shooting to annihilate sister-team CECABA Selection, 92-67, in the 2006 Executives Cup basketball tournament last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Cokaliong, who shot 41 percent from the three-point land, knocked in 11 3-pointers of his 37 points to easily win the game MVP honors. He canned 5-of-7 triples of his 19 markers in the first quarter alone to spur the CECABA All-Stars to a rip-roaring 34-12 start.

The CECABA All-Stars, backed by Pilipinas Shell, further buried the Runway Tires-sponsored CECABA Selection in its graveyard with a formidable 25-point advantage at halftime, 52-27.

From that point on, the CECABA Selection was in complete mess as it couldn't even pull within a single-digit.

Top center Sammy Sia added 11 points and seven rebounds, while flashy guard Joel Chan chipped in 10 points, 10 assists, nine caroms and two steals as the CECABA All-Stars grabbed the solo second place with a 7-2 win-loss card.

Playmaker Erwin Yu contributed eight points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals for CECABA All-Stars, while Richard Yu scored only two but labored hard in defense with eight rebounds and five blocks.

Danny Calagos finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four assists but fell short-handed in the end as CECABA Selection plunged on the brink of elimination with a 2-6 slate.

In the other game, Edgar de la Calzada sparkled with a season-high 30 points, while Reynold Zamora dished out a league-record 15 assists on top of 10 points, nine steals and seven rebounds in Team Barkada's heart-pounding 77-75 victory over Club Monday-Gatorade.

Giovanni Mante netted 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists followed by Danny Lim with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Barkada, which forged a three-way tie at third with Insular Life and Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) with similar 6-2 cards.

Club Monday actually had an opportunity to win, but faltered as Andres Seno Jnr only shot 1-of-6 free throws in the dying seconds of the contest.

Club Monday missed the services of two key players in Demosthenes Alfeche and Carlito Macasero Jnr, but Barkada was also without top gunners Pablo Yu and Richard Molina.

Seno wound up with 24 points and Julito Bacatan had 18 for Club Monday, which suffered its worst showing in the league with only three wins so far in nine starts.

[gameface_one]

CECABA All-Stars, JBA reach Execs Cup semis
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
The Freeman 08/05/2006

After barely missing a share of the All-Star MVP honors, Chester Cokaliong put up another one big show.

Cokaliong knocked in six 3-pointers of his topscoring 20 points, even as four others dished out double figures as the CECABA All-Stars freezed Punta Princesa Sports Association (PPSA)-I Coller Marketing, 89-71, to reach the 2006 Executives Cup basketball semifinals on Thursday as the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.

Later, the Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA)-Purcia Transport/Crunchiken found Club Monday-Gatorade a tough costumer to handle this time, nevertheless dodged the upset axe via a hard-earned 74-69 decision to complete the four-team semifinal cast.

Joining the CECABA All-Stars and JBA into the semis are topseed San Carlos Boys High Alumni Basketball Association (SCBHABA) and Team Barkada.

Interestingly, the CECABA All-Stars march into the penultimate round as the underdog considering that they lost to the three other semifinalists during the elimination phase.

Cokaliong, who also had two steals and a rebound, got huge backing from Stephen Tan with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists followed by Wilson Yu with 14 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a slendid show of hardcourt savvy.

Peppery guard Joel Chan was in his usual decisive form, finishing just a two assists shy from another triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, while Richard Yu chipped in 11 markers, seven rebounds and three assists for the CECABA All-Stars.

Unlike in their previous meeting that resulted into 104-66 blowout, the CECABA All-Stars had a hard time pulling away from PPSA in the first three quarters until Cokaliong and Stephen Tan conspired for 20 points in a furious 29-19 endgame run to seal the 18-point romp.

In the other game, Archie Coros posted 25 points and James Lloyd Noel banged in 18 markers to help JBA avert what could have been one of the biggest upsets this season.

Club Monday mounted a gallant stand most of the way and even threatened at 67-69, but JBA made a 5-2 blitz in the closing seconds of the game to march into the next round without hitch.

The scores

First game

CECABA All-Stars (89) - Cokaliong 20, S. Tan 15, W. Yu 14, Chan 13, R. Yu 11, Sia 6, Cokaliong 5, E. Yu 3, R. Yu 2

PPSA Selection (71) - Ortega 22, Hernandez 17, Arellano 14, Espinoza 13, Lim 3, Mosqueda 2

Second game

JBA Selection (74) - Coros 25, Noel 18, Jayme 13, Odulio 9, Cortes 5, Chua 4

Club Monday (69) - Seno 22, Alfreche 21, Macasero 10, Fernandez 4, Montuerto 4, Bacatan 4, Ponay 2, Monterroyo 2