Sunday, September 18, 2005
Rookie Catli leads Realtors v. Barako
Former Cebu-based player Cesar Catli showed a lot of promise in his first game in the big league as the former Cebuano high-school standout logged in a double-figure performance in helping the Sta. Lucia Realtors escape past Red Bull Barako, 83-81, in a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) preseason game at the New Era University Gym.
Catli, who played college basketball with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and had a key role when the FEU captured the UAAP championship in 2003 over defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, demonstrated his deftness in offense as he exploded from the outside and even outgunned teammate and fellow rookie, Alex Cabagnot, the league’s No.2 overall draft pick.
3-pointer
Picked by Sta. Lucia in the second round, Catli scored 16 points, nine of them from the 3-point area, including the shot that gave the Realtors a 79-75 advantage in the closing seconds of the tight contest.
Cabagnot, for his part, was given a passing mark in his debut as he managed to finish with eight points and keep his poise in the face of the Barakos’ tough defense.
Chester Tolomia led the Realtors with 21 points, 13 coming in the final canto, while Marlou Aquino added 12 and was a steady presence in the middle as the Realtors outrebounded the Barakos, 48-37.
Bungled chance
The Barakos had a chance to wrest the upper hand or send the game into overtime with the Realtors up by two, but Enrico Villanueva failed to control the inbound pass from Celino Cruz as time expired.
Villanueva topscored for Red Bull with 17 points, while Lordy Tugade had 16.
The Barakos got a big lift from rookie Leo Najorda with the San Sebastian stalwart chipping in 12 markers, half of them coming in the third period.
Sta. Lucia (83) – Tolomia 21, Catli 16, Aquino 12, Cabagnot 8, Mendoza 6, Gonzales 6, Sta. Maria 5, Calimag 4, Omolon 2, Duremdes 2, Cuan 1. Red Bull (81) – Villanueva 17, Tugade 16, Najorda 12, Torion 12, Baguio 7, Valenzuela 6, Bugia 4, Fonacier 2, Rodriguez 2, Robinson 2, Ybańez 1. (JSV)
(September 18, 2005 issue)
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