Dream Team seals semis berth

Dream Team clinched the second semis berth in the boys U19 division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic, following a 70-47 trouncing of the Ol’Aces last night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Dream Team’s Dixon Kwon drives to the baseline against two Ol’Aces defenders during their boys U19 game in the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Dream Team now has a 4-2 record for second place, while the Ol’Aces fell to a 3-3 slate and fifth place in the team standings, half a game behind Kagman Risers (3-2).

Only the Top 4 teams will advance to the semis and with the unbeaten Rollers 1 (6-0) and Dream Team assured of slots two the next round, the Ol’Aces must pray that Kagman and Sonics (4-2) drop their remaining games to stay in playoff contention.

Kagman was scheduled to meet Rollers 2 (2-3) last night, while the Sonics will play their last match on Tuesday against the latter.

Dream Team gave the Ol’Aces no chance to pull off an upset, as the James Benavente-coached team started strong, taking a 47-22 halftime advantage.

Shane Deleon Guerrero anchored Dream Team’s offense in the first half, scoring 17 points, while Dixon Kwon provided enough support, chipping in 10. Four other Dream Team players lit up the board for Dream Team in the first half to double up the struggling Ol’Aces.

Only Tristan Montes hit more than two field goals for the Ol’Aces in the first 20 minutes of play, forcing the Preston Basa-mentored squad to play catch up in the entire second half.

Montes kept leading the Ol’Aces in the second half, but failed still failed to draw help from his teammates, as his squad only managed to cut the deficit to 18, 42-60, with around six minutes left on the match.

A second straight triple from Sam Darag brought Dream Team’s lead back to 20-plus and sealed the Ol’Aces’ fate. Darag scored 8 straight points to widen the gap further, while Deleon Guerrero put the finishing touches in the lopsided victory, nailing 4 of Dream Team’s last 6 markers.

Deleon Guerrero finished with a game-high 21 points, while Darag and Kwon contributed 16 and 13, respectively. Montes was the only double-figure scorer for the Ol’Aces with his 13.

Dream Team 70–S. Deleon Guerrero 21, Darag 16, Kwon 13, Francisco 5, F.Deleon Guerrero 5, Castro 5, I. Borja 3, E. Borja 3.

Ol’Aces 47–Montes 13, Castillo 5, Nakashima 5, De Luna 5, Ermitanio 4, Leonardo Cristobal 4, Miller 2, Bucayo 2, Moses 2.

Scoring by halves: 47-22, 70-47.