Cokaliong’s return
In his only game this year, Chester Cokaliong explodes for 89 points with 25 three-pointers
CHESTER Cokaliong knocked in 25 triples of his 89-point performance to power the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (Cecaba) All-Stars to a 143-94 annihilation of the Cecaba selection during their goodwill encounter that spiced up the 14th Dr. Chen Lieh Fu Memorial Cup Fun Day over the weekend at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
It was Cokaliong's first and only game of the year.
Cokaliong achieved that feat after being outclassed by Aljhun Areja of Class 2004 and Normal Lopez of Class ' 93 in the threepoint shooting contest earlier in the day.
Nevertheless, it was a day to remember for Cokaliong, who went on to claim his 17th AllStar MVP since he figured prominently in the tournament’s AllStar games way back in 2003.
“Not in my wildest expectations that I would score 89 points (25 triples) in an All-Star game after losing in the threepoint shootout contest before the game,” said Cokaliong.
Cokaliong's personal record is 103 points spiked with 38 three-pointers he unloaded in a Cecaba regular season game in 2002.
It was sweet revenge nonetheless for the Cecaba Stars, who were stunned by the Cecaba Selection by a wide margin, 97-113, during their match last year.
This time around, it was a brutal reversal of fortune as the Cecaba stars easily hammered their way to a gut-wrenching 49-point demolition of their former tormentor.
Cokaliong churned out 45 points in the first half laced with 10 triples in the second quarter alone to propel the Cecaba Stars to a commanding 68-41 lead at the intermission.
After hitting 17 markers in the third canto, Cokaliong capped his game-long brilliance by drilling in 27 points—all from the beyond the arc—to deal the final knocking blow on the CECABA selection.
Meanwhile, Cokaliong and his brother Christopher settled for first runner-up honors in the 2-ball competition, which was topped by Joseph James Yu and Dean Dy Teves of Class '95.