LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Four teams automatically advanced to the semi-finals of the 2nd Governor’s Cup Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament after defeating their opponents in the Magic Round held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gym on March 3.
This developed after defending champion Binmaley and last season’s 1st runner-up Manaoag along with the equally competitive teams of Urdaneta City and Lingayen, all of which have a twice-to-beat advantage, defeated their nemesis: Mangaldan, Alaminos City, Mangatarem and Sto. Tomas, respectively.
On the first game, Manaoag team clobbered Alaminos City by 11 points, 82-71. Second game, on the other hand, was a lopsided match that favored Urdaneta City against Mangatarem, 110-95. Game three went in favor of Binmaley with 98 points versus Mangaldan with 92, while the last game was won by the Lingayen contingent by scoring seven-point lead against Sto. Tomas.
It can be recalled that after 10 quarterfinal outings, the top four teams under Groups A and B were determined. These were as follows: Binmaley, Manaoag, Alaminos City and Mangaldan for Group A, and teams Urdaneta City, Lingayen, Sto. Tomas, and Mangatarem for Group B.
For the Magic Round, the top two teams after the quarterfinals had enjoyed a twice to beat advantage over ranked 3 and 4 teams. Top two teams per group will then advance to the semi-final rounds.
The semi-final match-ups are as follows: Urdaneta City versus Manaoag, and Binmaley versus Lingayen.
As such, Sports Director Modesto M. Operania earlier disclosed that the semi-finals which are expected to be a jampacked event as cagers of the top four Magic Round winners will definitely put their best foot forward to land a slot in the final rounds.
Schedule of the best-of-three games among the top four teams will be on March 10, 11 and 17 (if necessary) to be held at NRSCC gym in Lingayen.
By Dexter A. See
