CEBU SHARKS KEEPS PLAYOFFS BID ALIVE

Cebu City Sharks use late run to beat Caloocan, 7170, stay at ninth place in MPBL South Division

The Cebu City Sharks used a late fourth quarter run to squeeze past the Caloocan Supremos, 71-70, in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Datu Cup last Tuesday night, Dec. 18, in Davao City.

It was a very close game in the first three quarters but Caloocan started to pull away in the fourth period with eight straight points for a nine-point lead, 64-55, with 5:36 left in regulation.

Rhaffy Octobre, who just got subbed in, stopped the bleeding with a two-pointer and that started the Sharks’ comeback run. The Sharks outscored the Supremos, 13-3, and regained the lead, 68-67, with a basket by William McAloney with nine seconds remaining.

McAloney split his free throws and Patrick Cabahug converted both of his charities to seal it for Cebu City.

Jess Mar hit his three-pointer with three seconds left but the Sharks survived with a one-point lead as the buzzer sounded.

Despite a bad shooting night from beyond the arc, Cabahug was still Cebu City’s best offensive weapon as he finished with 22 points. McAloney chipped in eight points, grabbed 17 rebounds, dished out four dimes and had two steals. Victor Nuñez added nine markers along with five rebounds and two steals.

Former PBA player Almond Vosotros had a near triple-double with 25 points, 10 boards and seven assists for the Supremos. Villahermosa added 15, while Paul Sanya scored 12.

Cebu City improved to 8-11 and is still in the running for a playoff spot. The Sharks are ninth in the South Division behind eighthplaced Laguna Heroes, which has an 8-10 slate. /