Ave Maria leads

Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
2 p.m. – SCSIT vs. Ave Maria
4 p.m. – ACT vs. Rollway
6 p.m. – SWU vs. ThreeSixty

The Ave Maria Sanctuary and Park grabbed the solo lead in the standings yesterday as they leaned on a pressure-packed free-throw by Ian Saladaga to thwart the Southwestern University Cobras, 99-98, in the Cebu Basketball Association-M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Mayor’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

Saladaga drew a foul after he grabbed an offensive rebound with just 3.2 ticks left on the clock. With SWU already in the penalty situation, Saladaga promptly made the first before intentionally missing the second to secure their third win in a row and help Ave Maria post a 3-0 record.

Yayoy Alcoseba’s SWU fell to their second straight loss for a, 1-2 mark.

Former pro Jojo Tangkay and Alex Cainglet both had awesome games with the lefty gunner scoring 27 and the fiery guard adding 25 more. Saladaga had 14 points.

The Cobras held a 49-45 lead at halftime and were still ahead, 72-67 when Saladaga conspired with Tangkay, who made a three-pointer and then a difficult lay-up to head to the final stanza up by one, 74-73.

Later in the fourth, Kurt Amores hit a lefty lay-up, Saladaga completed a three-point play, Mike Cantonao converted a trey and Saladaga added another basket which comprised a 10-2 rally that put Ave Maria on top, 86-77. But SWU fought back with Mar Villahermosa hitting five straight while Chris Dumape added two more putbacks to tie the game at 86-all.

The lead went back and forth until Jeff Viernes hit a perimeter jumper off a wicked crossover that gave the Cobras a, 98-96 lead. However on Ave Maria’s possession, Tangkay was fouled by Justin Aboude away from the basket and the former hit the freebies to tie again at, 98-all. SWU had a chance to take the lead but they turned the ball over on their trip down the floor, leading to Saladaga’s heroics for Ave Maria.

In the first game, the Rollway Customs Brokerage survived the ThreeSixty Pharmacy, 100-92, in overtime. Nat Cruz scored 25 while Eric Zanoria chipped in with 21 as Rollway improved to 2-1 while ThreeSixty remained winless in three outings.