THE METRO Cebu Uptown Jaycees/RC Goldline proved to be the steadier team down the stretch as they claimed the title in the 2011 Seniors Executive Cup by defeating the Cokaliong Shipping Lines (CSL), 85-76, in the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-three finals last Friday night at the City Sports Club basketball court.
The Jaycees finally broke out of of their shackles in the final period as they utilized their vaunted run-and-gun attack to establish a small lead, an advantage that they never let go of until the final buzzer.
RC Goldine got points from 11 of its 12 players led by Lito Navarro’s 19 and Montoy Singson’s 13.
CSL controlled the start of the game, taking a 23-21 lead after one quarter. RC Goldline countered to take the half at 45-41 and the third period at 66-64. Neither side enjoyed more than a four-point lead, with both sides trading baskets and leads until the final period.
Leode Garcia and Navarro each made baskets during a pivotal 7-3 run at the start of the final period that put them on top, 73-67. But Joel Chan, who opened the scoring for CSL in the period with a triple, scored another to cut the lead to 73-70.
RC Goldline went up ahead 77-70, but CSL replied to cut the lead to 77-74 with 5:22 remaining. The final blow was another scoring burst of five unanswered points that saw Garcia split his charities and Singson and Chris Sta. Maria scoring a fastbreak lay-up each to give RC Goldline an 82-74 lead with 3:58 left.
Garcia ended up with 13. Julius Gastador led CSL anew with 26 points while Opel Cabaltera had 14.
/Correspondent Jonas Panerio