COCA-COLA PBA YOUNGSTARS: CEBU CITY ROUTS NCR CHAMP VALENZUELA, STAYS UNBEATEN
Visayas champion Cebu City rolled to two easy victories recently in flexing its might and staying unbeaten in the 2014 PBA Coca-Cola Youngstars National Finals at the JCSGO gym in Cubao.
The championship round also saw Batangas, the Southern Luzon qualifier, clinching back-to-back wins and Northern Luzon bet Pampanga getting off the cellar in ending a two-game losing start.
The Cebuanos crushed Manila-KABAKA, 65-50, before stopping, 52-39, previously undefeated Valenzuela, which swept the National Capital Region leg.
Theo Joshua Flores had 20 points and Jifford Aljon Cahigas added 17 against Manila (1-2). The duo then returned to score 17 and 13, respectively, against Valenzuela (2-1).
In another game, Batangas, behind the 19 points of Arturo Oliva III, took the measure of Pampanga, 65-55, before unleashing its most murderous form yet in handing Cagayan de Oro its third straight loss, 71-39.
Pampanga, meanwhile, finally woke up after absorbing back-to-back losses, getting 22 points from Neil Jay Tolentino and 16 each from Justin Dale Bondoc and John Benedict Lepana in dumping Manila, 74-55.
Two days ago, Valenzuela rapped Cagayan de Oro, 68-44, setting the stage for its encounter with Cebu City.
Wrapping up the first round of the finals are the games pitting Manila against Batangas, Cagayan de Oro against Cebu City, and Pampanga against Valenzuela.
Scores:
CEBU 52 – Flores 17, Cahigas 13, Igot 8, Wamar 6, Zenarosa 4, Canoy 2, Maglasang 2, Alforque 0, Dado 0 , Dumandam 0, Gonzaga 0, Padilla 0.
VALENZUELA 39 – Lacap 13, Garcia 9, Balundo 8, Ramos 6, Cabigao 2, Gabriel 1, Bustillo 0, Cruz 0, Dela Cruz 0, I. Gabriel 0, Velvez 0.
Quarters: 20-6; 26-14; 33-25; 52-39
Second Game
BATANGAS 71 – Oliva 19, Macaraig 10, Alarcon 8Garcia 8, Maranan 8, Chavez 6, Encarnacion 6, Dimayuga 3, Igasan 3, Batuan 0, Hernandez 0.
CAGAYAN DE ORO 38 – Palabrica 12, Tingaraan 11, Espiritu 7, Real 4, Dagok 3, Maybuena 1, Baralla 0, Estoista 0, Lagbas 0, Ocangas 0, Tan 0, Tong 0.
Quarters: 23-5; 40-11; 56-27; 71-38
Third Game
PAMPANGA 74 – Tolentino 22, Bondoc 16, Lapena 16, Carmona 7, Lumba 7, F. David 3, Pangalinan 2,Mallari 1, I. David 0, Flores 0, Nicdao 0, Trinidad 0.
MANILA 55 – Santos D. 14, Andaya 11, Mendoza 11, Ramirez 7, Darang 4, Ang 2, Prodigo 2, Santos R. 2, Castillo 1, Quiambao 1, Canlas 0.
Quarters: 20-14; 32-31; 49-39; 74-55
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