THE First Family Appliance Circle ’96 ended their elimination round campaign on a high note as they beat Jepoy ’99, 100-99, 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.
For being the second seed with a 12-3 win-loss record, Class ’96 heads into the quarterfinal round with a twice-to-beat incentive over the eight-ranked squad. Dreyfuss Ang, Franklin Neil Ong and Rex Alinson banged in 21 points each for Class ’96.
Clint Christopher Melliza charted a season-high 24 points on top of four rebounds and two assists, while Mark Eugene Bukiron netted 23 points that went along with an incredible 20 assists, 15 rebounds and two steals.
Bukiron’s night, however, was spoiled as Class ’99 fell to 7-8 and at 10th seed will face the top-ranked New Mellinnium Hardware ’95 in the playoffs.
In the other game, Fil-Ann 2009 bade farewell on a winning note courtesy of its 69-54 demolition of Best World Lifestyle 2004. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio