Thursday, March 24, 2005
Apollo Tyres 1988 gains quarterfinal incentive
APOLLO Tyres 88 and Ng Khai 85 walked away victorious at the end of the elimination round of the Cecabas 7th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup Tuesday night at the City Sports Club-Cebu.
Class 88 displayed total team effort to crush Asian Home Appliance 80/89, 99-88, while Class 85 banked on a monster game by Joel Chan and a career-high 25-point show by the seldom-used Joseph Lloyd Tio to prevail over 4B Traders 60/82, 97-90.
Class 88 finished with a 7-3 win-loss record to tie with Pilipinas Shell 70s-B, but the Apollo Tyres-backed squad grabbed the No.3 spot by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule.
Still, both teams enjoy twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals, with Class 88 taking on Class 81/84 and Class 70s-B clashing with Class 83/87.
Erwin Yu charted 19 points, while Rey Kenneth Ng posted a season-high 18 points and 12 rebounds for Class 88, which went off to a blistering start to mount a 28-9 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
Class 88 padded its lead to 19 points after three quarters, 72-53, and then fought steadier down the stretch to deny Class 80/89 a graceful exit.
Ryan Alexis Mendez rifled 45 points and 13 rebounds, while Jefferson Lao added 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as Class 80/89 bade farewell to the season with a pitiful 1-9 win-loss record.
In the other game, Joel Chan played one of his best games in the Cecaba, firing a season-best 38 points on top of a career-high 25 boards and seven assists for the defending Division I champion Class 85.
Class 85, though, finished the qualifying phase at No.7 with an even 5-5 slate, its worst showing since the leagues inception in 1999.
It will next face the No.2 Class 92. Class 60/82, which drew a career-high 61 points from Samuel Co, bowed out of the tournament without a win to show in 10 games.
Class 1988 (99) E. Yu 19, Ng 18, R. Yu 15, R. Lim 15, Po 14, Villamor 8, P. Lim 5, Aguilar 5. Class 80/89 (88) Mendez 45, Lao 22, Yu 9, Chiang 8, Chua 2, Ong 2.
Class 1985 (97) Chan 38, Tio 25, Reyes 8, Ong 8, Kaw 6, Tan 4, Wong 4, Palomas 2, Dihiansan 2. Class 60/82 (90) Co 61, Borromeo 10, Chua 6, Ong 4, Lim 4, Lee 3, Yankee 2.
(March 24, 2005 issue)
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