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MDX playoffs resume tonight
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Posted on Nov 26 2006
Round two of the playoffs of the 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League unfolds tonight as the remaining four teams collide at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Scheduled to bang heads in the opener at 6pm are defending champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense and No. 4 MOVER, while pennant champion RHT and No. 3 Budweiser face off at 7:30pm.
SIP enters as the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 6-1 win-loss card. The record was good enough to tie RHT for the best regular season finish, however, RHT owned the tiebreaker after beating SIP earlier in the season.
In the first round, SIP was able to stop Budweiser, 97-78, after dominating the final three periods. Expected to step up for the team again are veteran captain Rick Alegre, guards Fred Pelisamen and Elmer Esdrelon, as well as Mel Manibusan and James Villacrusis.
MOVER, meanwhile, is ranked fourth after finishing the regular season with a 4-3 record. The team stunned RHT in the first round with a 104-91 win as its deadly trio of towers Dalewin Cortez, Eric Dalangin, and newcomer Ryan Sanciangco fueled the team to victory.
Because the two are coming off wins, whoever is victorious is most likely going to clinch a spot in the finals.
Meanwhile, both Budweiser and RHT are in must win situations after faltering in the opening round.
In their only head-to-head meeting this year, Budweiser was able to hand RHT its only loss with a 125-120 victory.
Both teams have a deep bench, with RHT expected to get big plays from scoring machines Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. and Kevin Cequena, as well as Jeremy Sablan and Rowel Aranda.
Budweiser, meanwhile, is looking to get big productions from Taj Van Buren, Sonny Lerio, and Marlon De Dios, as well as James Abuy, Peter Camacho, and Elias Rangamar.
Action continues on Wednesday, with RHT and SIP bang heads at 6pm, and Budweiser and MOVER battle at 7:30pm.
The two teams with the top win-loss cards will then advance to play in the championship game, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3.
