Ave Maria shocks SCSIT to take 1-0 lead in finals

With age comes a lot of experience.

This is what the old vanguards of the Ave Maria Sanctuary and Park proved as they led the squad to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three finals series after outlasting the heavily-favored Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Skyblazers, 83-79, in the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Basketball Association yesterday at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Alex Cainglet and Aldrin Ocañada, both of whom have logged in serious miles in the local commercial basketball scene, showed that they still had a lot left in the tank as they scored 19 points each to lead Ave Maria and help them take on step closer towards the title and the P200,000 cash prize that comes with it.

Former University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) big man Kurt Amores also had his time to shine as he tallied 14 points.

The Skyblazers, as usual, were led by their dynamic duo of MLKP-Cebu Niños Mark Abadia and Stephen Padilla, who had 25 and 23 points, respectively.

However, they got little else from the rest of the team as the next scorer was Ronan Isidro with 12.

Meanwhile, the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights notched the third place trophy as they defeated the undermanned Talisay, 91-80.

Former University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancer Morsie Akad led a balanced attack with 18 while Milfred Sampilo, Bernie Ursal and Eliud Poligrates scored 15, 13 and 12 points, respectively.

The game though was marred by a brawl in the fourth period between Talisay’s Nick Monaco and ACT’s Alano Caputolan.

In the Jr. CBA, Aerophone kept its chances of making it to the next round alive after beating  Shalom Cable Technologies Inc. (SCTI), 76-67, in the continuation of the elimination round at the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) gym.

The win by Aerophone evened their record out at 3-3 (win-loss) and it was made possible by the balanced scoring of the team, which is composed of stalwarts from the University of San Carlos (USC).

Anthony Romaguerra led the way with 17 while Dave Guardiario tallied 14. Lorenzo Bacaltos chipped in 11 while Jerry Seno and Mike Rita each had 10.

Alex Nazareno and Mike Kong led SCTI wth 17 points each while Jera Delima contributed 16. SCTI, coached by former PBA player, Mark Tallo, fell to 1-2.