AFTER scoring a resounding victory over erstwhile unbeaten Batch 1999/Southchoice Inc., Batch 1998/Kaking crashed back to earth when it bowed to Team CEC-D/Dimsum Frito, 58-68, last Thursday in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (Cecaba) 15th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup at the CEC Gym.
CEC-D was quick to burst Batch ’98’s bubble behind the combined forces of Jim Paul Yankee, Calvin Ang, Tommy Yu and Judd Veneracion, who all scored in double figures to lead the team’s third win in six games.
Yanke scored 17 points, Ang delivered 14, Yu wound up with 13 and Veneracion had 11.
Batch ’98 couldn’t sustain the momentum it gained from a shocking 100-99 win over defending back-to-back champion Batch ’99 last Tuesday.
Batch ’98 owns the distinction of being the first team to defeat Batch ’99 in two years. The one-point victory snapped Batch ’99’s 42-game win streak.
Batch ’98, however, quickly lost against steam against CEC-D and went on to taste its third loss in six games.
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Titans gear up for SM NBTC National C’ship The Paref Springdale Titans will be out to make a name for themselves on the national stage when they take on the country’s best in Division 2 of the SM NBTC National High School Championship tomorrow at the Mall of Asia Arena. Far from being a traditional powerhouse in the basketball scene here in Cebu, the Titans have risen up the ranks behind the leadership of head coach Jabby Bautista. And though they’ve had their struggles in their preparations for the big stage, Bautista is confident that his squad will be able to make some noise in the upcoming tournament. “Honestly. These past weeks kulang-kulang kami because of academic requirements nila. Kasi magtatapos na din ang school year that’s why madaming catching up to do. But we still managed to practice pa din with some players,” shared the former University of San Carlos and Southwestern University guard who has transitioned into coaching quite well. Bautista admitted that his team is behind the eight ball in terms of skills against the rest of the field but asserted that his team will be ready for war when push comes to shove. “Skill-wise against Manila teams, alam namin na medyo dehado kami. But what makes this team competitive is there chemistry because matagal na kasi sila magkakasama so alam na nila ang isa’t-isa and I’ve been coaching them since elementary days pa so madali na lang talaga mag put up sa system,” added Bautista. Expected to carry the fight for the Titans is the versatile Sean Quitevis, ace scorer Joshua Balankig, Jett Sy, Sean Contapay, Giles Benedicto, Ed Galang, Jay Sainz, Amiel Villegas and CJ Tan. Completing the team are Patrick Yray, Clarence Cabigon, John Sainz and Dennis Tan. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
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