Ceres, New Energy score come-from-behind wins

CERES Pasalubong 2006/07 and New Energy Marketing/Shakey’s 2008/10/11 rallied from double-digit deficits to pull out the victory in the 5th SJI Alumni Basketball Friendship Cup at the Msgr. John Liu Activities Center.

In a repeat of last year’s finals, Ceres Pasalubong remained unbeaten after recovering from a 20-point deficit to defeat Terra Dolce/Jollibee 1990/91/92, 66-59.

Jappy Cuaycong’s basket with 0.8 seconds left ended the swift offensive exchange in the last 30 seconds of the game, as New Energy/Shakey’s escaped with an 88-87 victory against the Legends/2009.

Terra Dolce started on the right track, as Peewee Demonteverde picked up 16 points and Glenn Ortaliz added 11 points for a 35-18 cushion at the break.

Renz Mendoza and Raymund Lacson combined for 16 points, igniting the comeback, but Jollibee remained on top at the end of the 3rd quarter, 54-43.

Bol Manaloto and Demonteverde had a combined output of 15 points for TD.

Ceres played at another level in the payoff quarter, as they limited Jolibee to 5 points while scoring 22 points, highlighted by a 15-0 run by blanking Jollibee for the first 6 ½ minutes of the quarter.

Lacson led Ceres with 17 points, Mendoza added 12, Dionela canned 11, Brian Coo made 9 and Martin Jalandoni contributed 6 points.

Demonteverde finished with 20 points, Ortaliz delivered 15 points and Manaloto had 13 points.

In the 2nd game, New Energy had a 41-39 lead at the break, courtesy of Charles Del Castillo’s 10 points and Luigi Coo’s 8 points against Legends’ Kevin Ramos’ 9 points and RJ Uy’s 7 points.

The Legends/2009 surprised Shakey’s in the 1st half of the 3rd quarter, as they scored on several one-on-one fastbreak opportunities to take a 56-43 lead. Shakey’s finished strong behind Del Castillo’s 7 points to draw closer at 63-55.

EJ Go and Aljon Diolaso had 9 and 6 points, respectively for the Legends/2009 in the quarter.
Mark Coo strung up 9 points at the start of the payoff quarter, as Shakey’s rode on its momentum to seize an 8 point lead midway in the quarter.

As the shots started falling for the Legends/2009, they finally took the lead anew at 83-82 on an Omay Demonteverde free throw.

It was a swift exchange, as a single point lead changed hands between the two teams. Del Castillo, who scored 10 straight points for New Energy, was unstoppable at the low post, as well as going 6 of 6 from the free throw line.

Legends/2009 meanwhile were able to maximize their timeouts and squeeze out 2 plays that gave them the lead, with Anthony Tajonera benefitting from a broken play to score on a bank shot and Kevin Ramos scored on a lay-up with 5 seconds left, giving the Legends/2009 a solitary point lead.

In the final play of the game, Cuaycong attacked the baseline and flipped a shot that bounced on the rim before going in, as Shakey’s broke their 2-game losing streak.

Charles Del Castillo sizzled with 30 points, Mark Coo added 14 points, Luigi Coo scored 11 points, Allen Dionela chipped in 8 points and Daniel Ong hit 7 points.

Ramos and Go paced Legends/2009 with 21 and 20 points, respectively, Uy added 14 points, Diolaso had 13 points, Tajonera picked up 10 points and Demonteverde scored 5 points.

(L-R) Terra Dolce/Jollibee’s Dominic Ciocon is double-teamed by Brian Coo and Renz Mendoza; Peewee Demonteverde flips a shot over the outstretched hands of Bren Tajonera; and, Ceres’ Raymund Lacson attempoints a triple at the top of the key. (Stephen Tan)