THE Cebu City Sharks-Casino Ethyl Alcohol has found their rhythm midway in the season after a rocky start in the 2018 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup.
The Sharks escaped a late surge from the Pasig Pirates, 56-53, at the People Center in Bataan on Saturday night, Nov. 3, to stretch their winning streak to four games.
Cebu City improved to a 5-8 (win-loss) record and has become the second hottest team in the South Division with four straight wins behind Davao Occidental’s impressive seven-game win streak.
The Sharks, however, are still out of the playoff picture at 10th place in the South Division after 13 games.
Cebu City has a fighting chance to make it to the playoffs as there are 12 games left before the end of the single-round robin elimination. The Top 8 in each division will advance to the playoffs.
In the game against the Pirates, Rhaffy Octobre paced the Sharks with a double-double performance of 10 points and 12 rebounds in 31 minutes of play.
The bench provided the needed spark for the Sharks as Gayford Rodriguez finished with 10 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double, while Cesar Catli poured in nine points and four rebounds.
Cebu City’s top scorer Patrick Jan Cabahug ended up scoreless in 16 minutes of play.
The Sharks had a double-digit 48-37 edge going to the final quarter, but the Patriots were able to mount a rally as the Sharks struggled in the end game.
Pasig trimmed the deficit to just two, 55-53, after Martin Gozum’s layup with 1:20 left to play.
The Pirates actually had the chance to tie the game after veteran forward Jerwin Gaco was fouled with eight seconds left. But Gaco missed both free throws.
Gaco finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates, which had a 16-12 lead after the first quarter before losing steam in the second quarter.
The Pirates fell to a 2-10 slate and sit at the bottom of the North Division. (RSC)