SIP/Barney’s makes Final Four

  Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense/Barney’s completed the Final Four cast in the U20 division of the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup after routing Hi-Five/POWER, 83-68, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

SIP/Barney’s recovered from a slow start to eliminate Hi-Five/POWER and earn a semis duel with the second-ranked MDX/Mariana Resort tonight at 8pm. Top-ranked and undefeated DYS/Bayani will collided against AON in the other semis pairing at 6:30pm. AON had a free semis pass after winning via forfeit versus DeMolay in the first game last Saturday.

With only five players-John Darag, Mike Moran, Ken Orejola, Erick Dela Rosa, and Rodney Sacramento-showing up at the start of the game, SIP/Barney’s fell behind after the first period, 11-16. Hi-Five’s Franklin Macahito almost outscored SIP/Barney’s first five, firing 9 points to put his team on top.

After sizzling in the opening canto, Macahito went cold in the second, as he was held to only one field goal, while SIP/Barney’s picked up the scoring. The Mico Moran-coached squad outgunned Hi-Five in the second canto, 22-11, to grab the driver’s seat at the break, 33-27. Herbert Maranan joined SIP/Barney’s in the second canto and chipped in 4, while four of the five starters also scored for their 6-point halftime advantage.

Maranan continued to make up for his first quarter absence, nailing 6 of SIP/Barney’s first 10 points in the third quarter. Sacramento and Dela Rosa then combined for 18 of their last 22 points to erect a double-digit lead, 62-52, entering the final canto. Ken Orejola and Mike Moran scored the 4 other points off free throws.

John Darag, who had only one field goal and a free throw in the third after drilling 11 points in the first half, ran the show for SIP/Barney’s in the fourth quarter. He started the final frame with a triple and had two more treys and tallied 12 markers in the fourth quarter alone to lift SIP/Barney’s to an easy win. Darag led all scorers with his 26 markers.

Sacramento added 19, Dela Rosa chipped in 14, and Maranan was one point short of posting double figures with his 9 markers.

Donald Hockett paced Hi-Five with his 18 points, but made half of them when the game was already decided in the fourth period. He had only one field goal in the first half when SIP took control of the match. Macahito, the second top scorer for Hi-Five with his 13 points, struggled in the last three quarters, as he was held to one field goal each in the second and third period and was scoreless in the final canto. Edward Manibusan also finished with 13 markers.

SIP/Barney’s 83 – Darag 26, Sacramento 19, Dela Rosa 14, Maranan 9, Moran 8, Orejola 2.

Hi-Five/POWER 68 – Hockett 18, F. Macahito 13, Manibusan 13, Urbano 12, Aldan 6, Cristobal 4, Atalig 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-16, 33-27, 63-52, 83-68.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter