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Cebu shuts down Imus to keep MPBL playoff hopes alive

Rhaffy Octobre is all alone for the layup. MPBL
By Ivan Saldajeno

BINAN--Cebu kept its last ditch march to the MPBL playoffs going with a 101-76 blowout of Imus on Saturday night at the Alonte Sports Arena.

With the Bicol Volcanoes' tight win over the Quezon City Capitals earlier in the night, the Sharks found themselves in a must win situation if they want to keep in step with the Volcanoes for the last postseason spot in the Southern Division.

The also-ran Bandera, however, looked to spoil the fun early on, taking an 18-15 lead with 2:53 left in the first quarter.

Cebu responded with 14-1 run to go up, 29-19, late in the first, and the team pulled away from there.

Rhaffy Octobre posted 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists, and one steal to lead the Sharks, who breached the .500 mark at 13-13 and are back to within a game of the Volcanoes for the eighth seed in the South. Joel Lee Yu and Will McAloney each added 13 points.

RJ Deles put up 12 points, one rebound, and one assist for the Jayjay Helterbrand-less Bandera, who finished their season at 6-24. Helterbrand took the night off owing to a hamstring injury.

The Scores:

Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol 101 - Octobre 19, McAloney 13, Lee Yu 13, Viloria 11, Ubalde 10, Galvez 8, Lao 8, Cortes 8, Huang 4, Cenita 3, Nuñez 2, Ilad 2, Mantilla 0, Saycon 0.

Imus-Luxxe White 76 - Deles 12, Cunanan 11, Anderson 10, Ng Sang 10, Nacpil 9, Munsayac 6, Caceres 4, Gonzaga 3, Ong 3, Morales 3, Vito 2, Dedicatoria 2, Cawaling 1, Arellano 0.

Quarterscores: 29-21, 50-37, 75-53, 101-76.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno