THE Sharks showed some defending champions’ savvy to pull off a close, 57-51 victory over the Cheetahs in their opening match of the Elite Basketball Club-Cebu Season 9 last Sunday night at the Visayan Glass Gym in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Cebu First District Representative Samsam Gullas scored a game-high 16 points for the Sharks. He was backed by big man Prince Malana with 12 markers. Manuel Jalmanzar and Germaine Guarisma paced the Cheetahs with 16 and 15, respectively.
Last year’s runners-up Tigers also got off to a rolling start after beating the Stallions, 74-62, in the night’s second game.
Reigning season MVP Armando de Jesus scored 23 points to lead his team while Borgie Cabigas and sharpshooting wingman James Cabilino added 12 and 10, respectively.
In the first game, the Bulldogs dumped the Wolves, 83-72 with Clint Remedio and Carl Cagigas scoring 16 and 14 points. Ryan Saavedra and John Paciencia added 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
Last Friday, powerhouse teams Rams and Panthers also logged convincing wins to go for an early 1-0 (win-loss) slate.
The Rams rallied behind Mark Lubiano’s 22 points to nip the Lions, 66-60, while the Panthers got a big boost from the returning Rorie Paspie to dump the Jaguars, 71-55.
Paspie finished with 16 while Jundy Dimitiman and James Ty added 11 apiece for the Panthers.
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