STARRING Raymond Sypongco and Paul Cabellon, Batch 1980s/1990s/2011-Koi Herbal advanced to the second phase of the quarterfinal round via a 70-65 win over Batch 1997-Solane iStyle last Tuesday in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (Cecaba) 14th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at the CEC Gym.
Sypongco scattered 25 points, six rebounds, four steals, three assists and a one block as the third-seed Batch 1980s/1990s/2011, which was armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, moved a game away from reaching the semifinals.
Koi Herbal will next play the winner in the do-or-die game between the seventh-seed Batch 1995-La Nueva Pharmacy and the sixth-ranked Batch 1986/1990s/2000s.
Batch 1995 forced a do-or-die match after it stunned the twice-to-beat Batch 1986/1990s/2000s in their initial encounter last week, 71-65.
In the other game, ninth-seed Batch 1998-Kaking lived to fight another day by nosing out fourth-ranked Batch 1996-Blakeley’s Motorcare, 69-68.
The two squads will meet again in a sudden-death duel with the winner facing the victor in the other no-tomorrow game between the eighth-seed Batch 1988-Dewfoam and fifth-ranked Batch 2007-Chef Chang.
THE SCORES
FIRST GAME
BATCH 1980S/1990S/2011 (70)- Sypongco 25, Cabellon 21, S. Tan 9, Chan 6, Sia 5, Avalon 4.
BATCH 1997 (65)- Maderazo 14, T. Tan 13, Poligrates 9, Labus 9, Lee 7, K Tan 5, Dano 4, Uy 4.
SECOND GAME
BATCH 1998 (69)- Evangelista 17, Chua 16, Millan 14, So 8, Lim 4, Co 3, Yap 3, Esocton 2, Go 2.
BATCH 1996 (68)- Allinson 19, Donayre 15, Patino 13, Ong 13, Renjane 3, Wang 3, Gaw 2.