SIP advances to championship round

Defending champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense will return to the finals of the 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League Coca-Cola Cup, while pennant champion RHT was crushed as the playoffs continued Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

SIP secured its finals slot after the team rallied from an early deficit to beat MOVER, 88-72, to win its eighth game in nine tries this season.

Both teams won their first round battles, and the MOVER cagers showed they were determined to win again as the team grabbed the early advantage and took an 18-13 lead after the first period.

The bout remained tightly fought in the second period, with the difference being that SIP was able to erase the deficit and take a 33-31 lead into halftime.

Hungry to put the game away, SIP picked up the pace, played tougher defense, and began to pull away in the third period. With National players Fred Pelisamen and Mel Manibusan scoring 10 and eight points, SIP was able to speed away to a 60-48 lead after outscoring the opposition, 27-17.

MOVER desperately tried to claw back into contention, but the push came to no avail.

Pelisamen continued to fuel SIP’s run with 12 points, and the team easily put the game away for the 16-point win.

Pelisamen was player of the game as he led SIP with a game-high 29 points, while Ed Diaz and Manibusan added 10 points apiece.

Eric Dalangin paced MOVER with 21 points, while Dalewin Cortez and Ryan Sanciangco were held to 11 and 10 points.

In the second game, Budweiser eliminated RHT from the title race with a down-the-wire 126-122 victory.

RHT had its shot at redemption after absorbing its only loss of the regular season to Budweiser, but in the end, crucial free throws were missed, and so were the team’s chances of the title.

The bout was close from beginning to end, with Budweiser grabbing a 32-28 lead after the first period, and a 59-56 advantage at the break.

Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. then took command for his team as the guard worked his magic for 14 points to help RHT grab the lead. It wasn’t much as Elias Rangamar nailed three triples and Marlon De Dios had eight points to keep Budweiser in contention, 86-88, with one period remaining.

It was anybody’s ballgame, with whoever executes the best bettering their chances to win.

Budweiser was able to regain the lead behind the scoring of Sonny Lerio, but RHT had several opportunities to tie the game or even move ahead.

RHT was down by three points, 109-112, with a little over three minutes. The team seemed to catch a big break when Budweiser’s Peter Camacho was hit with a technical foul. Jawn Joyner had two free throw attempts but missed both.

RHT still had ball possession, though, and again, Budweiser opened the door when Kevin Cequena was fouled while shooting a triple. Cequena made only one of three attempts, and Budweiser still held a two-point lead, 112-110.

Budweiser was able to work the lead to as much as seven points with two minutes remaining. RHT was not ready to give up and fought back, but came up two buckets short.

Rangamar was the player of the game as he hit five triples and scored 22 points for Budweiser. Camacho was also big for the team with his inside play and scored 24 points, while Lerio came up big in the clutch with 20 points, 18 coming in the fourth quarter. De Dios and Taj Van Buren also had 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Estolas was on fire the whole game and finished with 40 points, while Cequena and Gyles Ruluked added 26 and 18 points. Joyner and Melvin Villarin also scored 16 and 12 points.

The loss dropped RHT’s playoff record to 0-2, while the win enabled Budweiser to level its mark at 1-1.

MOVER also sits with a 1-1 card, while SIP is at 2-0.

SIP and RHT will battle in the third round tonight at 6pm, while MOVER and Budweiser clash for the last finals slot at 7:30pm.

The championship game will be held this Saturday, Dec. 3.

First Game

SIP 88 – Pelisamen 29, Diaz 10, Manibusan 10, Mendoza 7, Vilacrusis 7, Esdrelon 6, D. Barbo 6, Alegre 6, Flores 3, Marasigan 2, Mendiola 2.

MOVER 72 – Dalangin 21, Cortez 11, Sanciangco 10, Aquino 8, Domingo 6, Ambrosio 6, Johannes 6, Gamboa 4.

Scoring by quarters: 13-18, 33-31, 60-48, 88-72.

Referees: Jess Pacheco, Gilbert Espinosa, and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game

Budweiser 126 – Camacho 24, Rangamar 20, Lerio 20, De Dios 18, Van Buren 16, Factor 8, Mendoza 7, Abuy 5, Vinas 4, Celes 2.

RHT 122 – Estolas 40, Cequena 27, Ruluked 18, Joyner 16, Villarin 12, Muleta 5, Capalad 2, Peredo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-28, 59-56, 86-88, 126-122.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos, Arnold Mesa, and Tom Alegre.