Cheetahs forge three-way tie at the top in Elite hoops Cebu City

The Cheetahs’ Kimo Bajamunde shoots a baseline jumper. | contributed photo

Cebu City, Philippines — The Cheetahs tightened things up at the top after they won over the Hawks, 73-69, in the Elite Basketball Club Cebu City Season 14 on Sunday at the Visayan Glass Gym in Guadalupe.

The win created a three-team logjam for first place with the Tigers and the Rams as all three teams tote identical 3-1 win-loss records.

Chito Solis paced the Cheetahs with 23 points while John Rodrigo added 19 markers in the wire-to-wire win.

In other games, the Eagles and the Sharks evened their respective records up at 2-2 tallying victories over the weekend.

The Eagles tore apart the Stallions, 139-94, as Jarred Nacasabog tallied 37 points in the lopsided win. 

Mark Ynoc also shone with 24 markers of his own as a total of seven players reached double-figures in scoring for the Eagles. 

Larke Bacatan added 18, Justin Mier pitched in 17, JL Manila had 16, Zwi Duran pitched in 12 while Edward Llanos tallied 11 in the well-rounded effort.

The Sharks, meanwhile, ate up the Panthers, 71-57, as incidentally, former Cebu City Shark, Ian Ortega, led the way with 21 points.

THE SCORES

FIRST GAME

EAGLES 139 – Nacasabog 37, Ynoc 24, Bacatan 18,  Mier 17, Manila 16, Z. Duran 12, Llanos 11, Labajo 4.

STALLIONS 94 – Chu 28, Monteclar 19, Aloba 15, Mante 13, Yu 13, Besañes 6.

Quarter: 43-22, 70-36, 99-59, 139 – 94.

SECOND GAME

Sharks 71 – Ortega 21, Lim 7, Dolloso 6, Malana 5,  Villardar 5, Brigoli 5, Ignacio 5, Rosal 5, Reyes 4, Pioquinto 4, Labrador 2, Labagala 2.

PANTHERS 57 – Panerio 17, Buot 11, Sanches 6, Salarda 5, Co 5, Patalinghug 5, Chan 3, Panes 3, Ty 2.

Quarter: 21-14, 31-26, 50-43, 71-57.

THIRD GAME

CHEETAHS 73 – Solis 23, Rodrigo 19, Tan 12, Gumampong 11, Bajamunde 9.

HAWKS – Mendoza 16, Aldave 15, Truz 12, Cannen 8,  Tapdasan 8, Delos reyes 3, Pilayre 2, Burgos 2,  Arnado 2, Baylosis 1.

Quarter: 18-13, 36-26, 55-41, 73-69. /bmjo