BULL-STRONG Cass Navales on Tuesday took matters in his hand to lift 7 CVL in an electrifying overtime win over the hard-fighting CDO Eagles, 83-79 in the ongoing Cagayan de Oro Mason basketball tournament.
This, as Makahambus drew an inspired play from Mark Chang, Michael Chan and Ramil “Manu” Acol to overpower the heavily-depleted Ben Go team, 54-45 in the nightcap of the exciting Mason hoopfest which resumes here tonight at Camp Evangelista gym in Barangay Patag.
The CVL’s nightmarish escape nonetheless spoiled the monstrous performance of Col. Carlos Alvarez, the 50-year-old scoring machine of CDO Eagles who finished the game with 43 points.
“It was such a lung-busting finish. Hangak kaayo kay nakadikit permi up to the final seconds of the ballgame maskin unom lang sila,” gasped the hard-working Ian Ang , who controlled the rebounds apart from backing Navales up with 29 markers.
Dictating the game early before yielding the lead at the outset of the third quarter, the six-man Oro Eagles forced overtime through the 3-point basket of Jong Lumbay. Another desperate trey from Alvarez ensued a deadlock with still 17 seconds to go in the extension period. But Ang fished a foul and went to the freethrow line and Navales scored on an offensive rebound to settle the game for good.
“We’re close to winning, but the breaks of the game didn’t go our way. At 50-year-old, dili na kaayo ko hard-loser sa basketball. Enjoy the game lang,” Alvarez told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. LLS
The scores:
7 CVL 83—Navales 37, Ang 29, Bago 8, Nagtulon 4, Gabutan 3, Sanchez 2, Cuveas 0, Abellanosa 0, Mandac 0.
CDO Eagles 79—Alvarez 43, Mariano 12, Lumbay 11, Salcedo 8, Pacatang 7, Salgados 2.
2nd game
Makahambus 54—Chang 12, Chan 10, Acol 7, Uy 5, Ching 5, Go 4, Sy 4, Ratunil 2, Limlosuy 2, Dy 0.
Ben Go 45—Alvarez 15, Gamaga 11, Luzon 10, Ortiz 7, Roa 2.