BACOLOD City – C&C Café/Ang Bata Hardware secured a semifinals seat in the 17-and-under category of the 3rd Chairman’s Cup Negros after an 82-75 victory over Bacolod Trinity Christian School/Lamtex Plastic Ware in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Jerry Manday spearheaded the offense with 27 points, Jester Paypa added 20 markers, and Ahron Cagayao shot 10 points in a knockout game held at the Willy and Nolita Au Court of Bacolod Tay Tung High School here.
C&C Café had some anxious moments in the fourth quarter as they saw their 65-55 third quarter lead cut to 73-71 on back-to-back triples by Trinity’s Kenan Abella and John Joseph Gerardo.
C&C Café, however, responded with a 9-4 scoring run behind Manday and Ahron Cagayao to establish an 82-75 advantage with under a minute remaining in the fourth period.
Gerardo anchored the Trinity’s offense with 19 points, Andrei Sto. Tomas backed him up offensively with 18 markers, while Abella and Enzo Robles ended with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Reach Sports-Colegio De San Agustin also earned their seat to the semifinals round after holding off Kenn, 61-52, while Raishen Rojas and Ed Marinduque leading the way with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Kenn made their presence felt early as they took a 16-10 first quarter advantage, but they were limited to just six points in the second frame as Reach Sports-CSAB took a 27-22 halftime lead.
Reach Sports-CSAB rode on their momentum in the second half as their lead ballooned to 49-34 in the third quarter. Kenn attempted to make a run in the fourth quarter but was foiled by the defense of Reach Sports CSAB.
Jake Roxas and Floyed Lumio led the way for Kenn with eight points apiece, while Dylan Umadhay contributed seven markers.
Bobcats, for their part, also moved on to the semifinals round after a come-from-behind 61-57 victory over Obi Knights. JayJay Dayon led the way for the winning team with 14 points./PN
