THE DEFENDING champions Unitec gained the lead in the standings after they dropped Durabend, 79-76, in a rematch of last year’s championship series in the United Architects Basketball Club 3rd Corporate Cup last Sunday at the Cebu Eastern College gym.
Criz Matunog fired in 24 points including two straight three pointers in the final canto that deadened Durabend’s comeback attempts.
Jay-R Decatoria added 17 while Chad Go contributed 14 markers as Unitec improved its record to 6-2 (win-loss).
Durabend got 17 points from Elmer Laguna and 16 from this writer. The team fell to an even 4-4 for the season.
In other games, Matimco registered the upset of the season so far as it beat erstwhile leader Boysen, 65-59.
It was only Matimco’s second win of this tournament and it got it behind the 20 points of Alexander Vidal and the 19 of Ferrer Emboy. Puyat Steel also won over Cebu Home Builders, 102-92 in spite playing with just four players for most of the second half.
Undermanned with just five players showing up to play, things appeared headed south for Puyat Steel as it lost George Silao to an injury. Still, they fought on and eventually got the win behind the 31 points of Neil Belga./Correspondent Jonas Panerio