Panthers secure Elite Basketball Club title
The Panthers celebrate their championship victory. (CDN PHOTO RABBONI BORBON)
THE PANTHERS sank four three-pointers in the final period, three in succession, to trounce the Seahawks, 106-97, and once again snare the championship title of the Elite Basketball Club Cebu last Sunday night at the Visayan Glass Gym in Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Rorie Paspie, Neil Buot and Ian Ocampo hit three straight triples for the Panthers that built an 83-72 with six minutes left in the game. Buot drained another shot from rainbow country to finally shut the doors on the feisty Seahawks.
Mark Panerio had a game-high of 30 points for the Panthers and was awarded as Finals MVP. Former MVP Buot chipped in 28 markers.
The Panthers led at the end of the first half, 43-39, until John Velasco and the Seahawks ignited a 12-3 run that gave them the upper hand midway through the period.
But Buot and Panerio made baskets to give back the lead to the Panthers, 64-61.
The barrage of long-range shots in the fourth and Panerio’s free throws allowed the Panthers to secure the win and taste the championship again after ruling the fourth season last January.
Velasco paced the Seahawks with 24 points while Christian Gicain and Raymund Tan chipped in 15 and 14, respectively.
The seventh season of the tournament is set to start next month.
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