By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — New Energy Mktg./Shakey’s 2010–12 routed Gochangco Enterprises 2008–09, 112-83, to grab the top spot of the 6th Msgr. John Liu and Msgr. John Su Basketball Memorial Cup.
St. John’s Institute (SJI) Dads earlier defeated Phoenix Petroleum Batch 2000–03, 82-70.
New Energy tied with Terra Dolce/Jollibee Legends and AX Currency Exchange 2006–07 with 7-2 win-loss cards, but New Energy topped the standing due to best quotient. Legends and AX ended at third place.
Fast breaks attacks employed by Shakey’s put them on top at the half, 65-40.
The biggest lead ballooned to 29 points in the 3rd quarter, but an 11-0 run by Gochangco got them to within 18.
Luigi Coo and Michael Herdon lead Shakey’s scoring with 17 points each; De Leon shot 14; Joshua Chua, 13; and Zoey Pandan, 9.
Xylesis Herdon had a game-high 25 points in the losing effort of Gochangco; Kevin Ramos added 17; EJ Go with 10; and Danty Ma, 9.
On the other hand, Phoenix missed their chance to create a triple for the top 3 teams and ended their elimination round at 6-3 win-loss card after losing to guest team SJI Dads.
Phoenix, who played catch up in the three quarters, finally slip past the Dads and took a slim 54-53 lead going to the fourth quarter, but it ould not stop the SJI Dads, whose offense got hot in the payoff quarter led by Ryan Gamboa and Dave Docto to complete the upset win.
Ryan Gamboa paced the Dads with 13 points; Pantaleon and Mark Yanson dropped 12 points apiece; Richard Lacson and Dave Docto fired 11 each; and Eman Panisales gave 8.
Michael Sian top-scored with 16 points for Phoenix; Paolo Li had 14; while Mark Jimenez and Jordan Chua shot 11 points each./PN
