SHAKEY’S Cobra Smart Plus spewed venom to overcome the twice-to-beat advantage of Fyr Fyter Heineken with a nail-biting 92-86 win to capture the Class A title of the Fil-Sino Asia Brewery Cup on Friday, March 29, at BTTHS Po Hang Gym.
Most Valuable Player Harvey Eslawa again led Shakey’s with 20 points, backstopped by the playmaker Allen Delagente and Jerome Napao with 18 markers apiece and Cedrick Debide, who added 17 points.
The trio of Coleen Testa, Janus Calma and Jhan Nermal combined for 23 points to spearhead Fyr Fyter to a 29-18 opening-quarter advantage.
Shakey’s returned the compliment and led at the half, 47-42, as Eslawa, Napao and Debide conspired for 20 markers.
Both almost fought even but Shakey’s continued to remain on top, 65-61, going to the final canto despite Randy Colonia and Nermal delivering against the balance offense of Eslawa and Delagente.
Colonia carried the scoring load for Fyr Fyter’s last ditch effort, including the last go-ahead triple for a 70-67 lead, followed by Nermal hitting the next 13 points.
Their effort fell short as Delagente sank two triples shifting the momentum to Shakey's as its top four scorers took turns in alternately swishing the net to nail the championship. Delagente knocked down a three while Napao, Debide and Eslawa hit at will. Monic Soliva shared seven and Jayson Balabag had six points for the champs.
Nermal paced Fyr Fyter with 25; Testa, 17; Colonia, 13; Mark Anthony De La Cruz, 10 and Calma, 9.