The Game-Eats Easy, CK Saints advance to open Final 4

The Final Four stage of the open division in the Inaugural SMEC-SMLEG Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023 is set.

The Game-Eats Easy and CK Saints join Easy Riders and Checkpoint in the semifinals of the open division after they eliminated their foes Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

After being down by 11 points at one point, Eats Easy came back to get within a point, 77-78, with 1.7 seconds left.

Eats Easy gained possession after a jump ball and Joe Sablan set up the play with J.C. Ferrari screening for Preston Basa to get away from his defender.

Basa went on to get the ball and swooshed a Hail Mary 3-pointer at the buzzer to steal the win away from Bridge Capital LLC, 80-78.

The crowd poured onto the court and Eats Easy’s bench made a beeline to congratulate Basa on an almost impossible play.

Eats Easy actually made it harder for themselves as they could’ve taken the lead in the fourth quarter, but free throws handed to them by Bridge Capital foul penalties were missed on more than one occasion.

Bridge Capital also upped the pressure with man-to-man defense to ensure rushed and inaccurate 3-point attempts by sharpshooter Basa and no-go fast-break under the net plays by speedy DJ Ong and Francisco Gutierrez.

The start of the fourth quarter seemed like Bridge Capital was going to take it all the way with a 61-52 lead. Eats Easy coach Clint Albert could be heard on the sidelines screaming plays at his team—egging Basa to take the lead on the court.

With time winding down quickly, Albert gave Basa the green light for 3-pointers at any opportunity. It was heated on the court as Bridge Capital’s knuckles were white from trying to hold on to their narrowing lead with Eats Easy creeping up.

With just two minutes left and one timeout remaining, Eats Easy inched slowly by finally making their free throws and their layups. The minutes went by as Eats Easy was making a comeback from a 67-76 deficit.

With 21 seconds left, Sablan fouled Khristian David who made it both in, but Bridge Capital stagnated at 78 points as rush plays by Eats Easy conjured up crucial fouls from a penalty-ridden Bridge Capital defense. J.R. Galang finally made up for his missed ones earlier in the quarter and made it 77-78.

It was still Bridge Capital’s possession and they tried to kill time, but Basa, on a last-ditch effort, fouled White Capalad with 13 seconds left to give Eats Easy the last possession. Capalad, who needed to make both in, missed entirely—which eventually cost them the game as it was Eats Easy’s possession with less than 13 seconds left.

Bridge Capital defended their basket mightily, but a jump ball allowed Eats Easy to retain possession, and after a final timeout by Albert, the play was set culiminating on Basa’s 3-pointer.

In the game after, CK Saints went a different route and won via a blowout 85-59 game against Solid North.

CK Saint’s Melvin Manibusan led with his 16 markers, while Dom Blas put up 12, and L.J. Reyes and Leo Galarse had 11 points each.

If the schedule follows through, the master’s division semis started last night. The open division semis are set for this Saturday, Oct. 28, and the master’s division semis continuation is next Monday, Oct. 30. The open division semis continuation is on Tuesday Oct. 31, and master’s/open semis continuation are on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

The championships for both divisions are set for Saturday, Nov. 4.

The Game-Eats Easy 80 – Galang 21, Basa 18, Ong 12, Gutierrez 9, Mizutani 9, Sablan 6, Ferrari 5.

Bridge Capital 78 – Bernardo 23, Poksu 13, David 11, Lilies 8, Capalad 7, Solis 6, Agustin 6, Gariguez 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-17, 33-37, 52-61, 80-78.

CK Saints 85 – Manibusan 16, Blas 12, LJ Reyes 11, Galarse 11, Tudela 9, Luizi Reyes 8, Aldan 6, Mendiola 4, Aughenbaugh 4, Palacios 2, Ybanes 2.

Solid North 59 – Foronda 19, Bayking 17, Bobares 8, Leon 7, Jugos 3, Malinay 2, Sapo 2, Gallardo 1.

Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 42-27, 56-51, 85-59.