CHESTER Cokaliong has another reason to celebrate a very happy birthday today.
Cokaliong fired 30 points including a pair of clutch hits from the 3-point range in the final three minutes that lifted Pilipinas Shell ’80s to a, 77-71 stunner over the previously undefeated New Millennium Hardware ’95 in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association’s 12th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup last Sunday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Shell ’80 got off to a slow start and trailed, 17-22 early on. They were still down by a hairline at halftime, 38-39, but tied the count at 41-all. Cokaliong then canned three consecutive triples that gave them a, 50-41 advantage. Their biggest lead though stood at 10 points, 54-44, on a basket by Stephen Tan midway in the third period.
However, the gritty Class ’95 led by Donald Anthony Ting erased the deficit and wrested the driver’s seat, 60-61, early in the final quarter.
Class ’95 was on top for the last time at, 66-65 as after Christopher Cokaliong sank the go-ahead shot for Class ’80s, his sweet-shooting big brother Chester knocked in crucial triples that enabled the Shell-backed squad to score one of the biggest upsets this season.
Cokaliong buried a total of 10 triples as Shell ’80s notched its fifth straight win and sixth overall in eight starts.
Stephen Tan had while Christopher Cokaliong contributed a dozen markers on top of a season-high 14 rebounds.
Ting paced Class ’95 with 22 points, Izmer Tiu had 18 points while Dean Dy Teves finished with 15 markers and 14 rebounds as Class ‘95 saw its six-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.
In the other game, Junwynne Dy nailed 19 points and Ralph Victor Yap added 16 markers as First ACY Shipping Class 2006 bested Wild Rice 2007, 56-48.
It was Class 2006’s second victory in seven starts.
Raymark Ryan Ong netted 20 points Class 2007, which crashed to its fourth loss in a row.
BOX SCORES
First game
Class ’80s (77) – Ches. Cokaliong 30, S. Tan 18, Chris. Cokaliong 12, Yu 7, Chan 5, E. Lim 2, Z. tan 2, S. Co 1
Class ’95 (71) – Ting 22, Tiu 18, Dy Teves 15, Yu 12, Chica 4
Second game
Class 2006 (56) – Dy 19, Yap 16, Nuñez 9, C. Tan 8, Tiu 2, Rosello 2
Class 2007 (48) – Ong 20, Espada 9, Chu 7, Po 6, Haw 4, Dy 2.