5th SJI Alumni Basketball Friendship Cup Ceres, Phoenix keep unbeaten streak

CERES Pasalubong 2006/07 and Phoenix 199/2k remained undefeated and are tied atop the standings with 5 wins each in the 5th SJI Alumni Basketball Friendship Cup at the Msgr. John B. Liu Activities Center.

Ceres outscored the Legends/2009 for 3 quarters to pull away 95-76 while, in contrast, Phoenix lost its 24 points lead and escaped with a narrow win over Waterfull/Celcor 1993/04/05 91-87.

The trio of John Lee, Mark Jimenez and Jan jan Lopue with 13, 7 and 6 points respectively provided a 1st quarter cushion for Phoenix for a 27-14 lead.

Waterfull with only 6 players present was penalized with 8 points at the start of the 2nd quarter as the lead went to as high as 24 points But Michael Ang picked up 11 points to lead a Waterfull comeback as the lead was chopped down to 54-40. Cushioning the impact of the comeback was Eduardo Ng's 9 points and Jordan Chua's 6 points for Phoenix.

Christian Castro scored 9 inside points as they continue to draw closer at 71-64, even as John Lee made 8 points for Phoenix.

Ang continue to deliver for Celcor with 10 points and Julius Teruel provided additional firepower with 8 points, as Waterfull cut the lead to as low as 2 points with a minute left but the rally fell short as Jan Jan Lopue scored the last 3 points for Phoenix.

Lee topscored with 23 points, Jimenez sunk 10 points and Lopue made 9 points.

Ang paced Celcor with 21 points, Teruel added 14 points, Castro contributed 11 points and Monroe Chua hit 9 points.

The frontline of Martin Jalandoni with 20 points and Brian Coo with 13 points led the Ceres offense, backed-up by Leif Ledesma with 12 points , Raymund Lacson 11 points and Alvin Dionela and Christopher Mahinay with 10 points.

Wilson Gamboa Jr. and RJ Uy delivered 17 points apiece to Legends in a losing effort, Omay Demonteverde scored 12 points, EJ Go shot 10 points, Aljon Diolaso picked up 8 points and Kevin Daniel Ramos had 7 points.

Meanwhile Terra Dolce /Jollibee dominated 11 Degrees, 74-57 to stay at 3rd place.

Peewee Demonterde and Bol Manaloto topscored with 25 and 24 points, respectively to lead TD. 11 Degrees' Dino Tongco finished with 19 points, Robert Uy scored 13 points and Tim Garrucho shot 9 points.

New Energy Mktg/Shakey's 2008/10/11 is at 4th place, holding off Petron 2001/02/12, 85-78.

Shakey's was led by Jappy Cuaycong with 17 points, Luigi Coo 15, Allen Dionela 12, Daniel Ong and Mark Coo 11 points each and Charles Del Castillo with 8 points.

Marcelino Tan paced Petron with 19 points, Joshua Co 12, Paolo Sanchez 10 and Clarence Quingco 9 points. (Stephen Tan)