Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Chiefs get Villar's P2M fund
IT’S the Lapu-Lapu City Chiefs who were crowned first-ever champion of the Cebu Inter-City Basketball Challenge after beating the Bogo City Bogoys, 79-76, in the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series held at the Lapu-Lapu City Auditorium and Sports Complex Sunday night.
The Chiefs took the grand prize, a P2-million worth of projects from the Countrywide Development Fund of Senate President Manny Villar. The Bogoys, on the other hand, settled for P1.5million worth of projects.
Still feeling the agony of their 78-79 Game 2 defeat last Saturday in Bogo City, the Chiefs struggled early and allowed the visitors to erect a 28-16 lead early in the second quarter.
However, the strong determination and the big-hearted Chiefs climbed hard and outscored the Bogoys, 19-11, to even the game at 33-all with 1:26 remaining in the second, but the Bogoys kept their composure and scored seven straight points to close the first half ahead, 40-33.
Bogo controlled the next three minutes to earn a 46-37 lead, but the Chiefs persisted and after taking a 49-48 lead, a see-saw battle ensued before tournament MVP Jar-Jar Degamo and Rino Berido sank crucial baskets to ensure victory for the host team.
After a 76-70 Lapu-Lapu City lead in the final minute of the game, Bogo inched within 76-78 and Noel Balili had the chance to force an extension, but his shot fell short of the target and Orly Amores split his charities at the other end to secure the victory for the Chiefs.
Degamo again proved his worth as the team’s lead scorer, finishing with 21 markers, while team skipper Ritchel Falcon contributed 14 points and Amores had 10.
Bogo City, meanwhile, saw another brilliant performance from Juan Ace Ursal who finished with 28 points as Balili added 25.
Bogo, who lost Kim Valenzuela on ejection because of two unsportsmanlike fouls, were led by the tandem of Ursal and Balili with 28 and 25 points, respectively.
