Friday, January 24, 2003
Yayoy 1 foot in
By Rommel C. Manlosa
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE University of the East Warriors displayed championship character as they pulled an upset over Spring Cooking Oil, 76-74, in the nightcap to end the elimination round of the NBL-CBL Sinulog Cup at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
Meanwhile, M. Lhuillier took the first semifinals seat after an eventful 93-89 overtime victory over Shineway Sausage Ham of Ozamis City to top Group A, while sister team ML Kwarta Padala finished unscathed in Group B after surviving against University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 82-81.
The tournament format, which pits the top team against the fourth-ranked team in each group in the quarterfinals, gave the Jewelers an automatic semis slot. M. Lhuillier, being the top team in Group A, will not have quarterfinal foe as there are only three teams in Group A after Wang’s Ball Club did now show up for the tournament.
James Yap gave life to the Red Warriors as his composure and steady hands became the main problem of Spring. Yap finished with 31 points while Cebuano spitfire Robert Labagala stepped up in place of the injured Ollan Omiping while Niño Cañaleta and the other UE big men dominated the boards.
The Jewelers needed an extra period to topple Shineway Sausage, after a near walkout incident in the dying seconds of the final frame.
Time was stalled at the 34.4 seconds of the regulation period when the Ozamis boys nearly walked out following a controversial call by referee Lito Pancho.
Shineway was in a position to increase its narrow 78-77 lead when Edgar Echavez lost the ball to the sideline as he tried to elude Warren Ybañez’s pesky defense.
Pancho, who earlier slapped a technical foul on M. Lhuillier coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, awarded ball position to Shineway. But as he was about to correct his call, Alcoseba broke a monobloc chair in airing his disapproval.
Shineway got irked when Pancho corrected his call. Ozamis coach Albert Calvo then signaled his players to walk out. The team was ready to leave the court when the technical committee explained to them the consequence of their action. They were later persuaded to finish the game.
When play resumed, Ozamis City was awarded ball position on Alcoseba’s order, but despite a valiant effort Shineway, which climbed out from a 33-54 pit, succumbed to errors and crucial turnovers to concede the game.
ML Kwarta (82) – Tangkay 21, Laygo 12, Taguines 8, Aying 6, Lumantas 6, Reyes 6, Ferraren 6, Alvarado 5, Carretas 4, Manigo 3. USJ-R (81) – Saladaga 18, Arellano 18, Saguindel 16, Villaplaza 7, Sencil 6, France 6, Canceko 3, Real 3, Lozano 2. Quarterscores: 27-18; 45-44; 62-69; 82-81.
M. Lhuillier (93) – Ocañada 20, Ybañez 14, Smith 11, Rodriguez 10, Caliao 10, Enriquez 8, Lim 7, Naron 7, Cantona 4, Cañoneo 2. Shineway-Ozamis (89) – Jaca 19, de Jesus 16, Echavez 15, Sampelo 11, Cabigkis 11, Rol. Menor 8, Rom. Menor 6, Libatog 2, Bantigue 1. Quarterscores: 26-17; 50-33; 62-53; 78-78; 93-89.
UE (76) – Yap 31, Masbang 8, Labagala 8, Ronquillo 6, Tan 6, Cañaleta 5, Butel 4, Alminario 2, Booker 2, Hubalde 2. Spring (74) – Limbo 13, D. Bautista 12, Ybañez 11, Reyes 11, Manuel 10, Saygo 6, Habelito 4, Ricafuente 3, Espiritu 2. Quarterscores: 21-16; 39-44; 57-60; 76-74.
(January 24, 2003 issue)
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