BAGUIO CITY – ROC-A checks Voltz 99-77, St. Andrew’s underscore Dope 88-82 when teams are like in a gold rush in the YMCA Cup, now pushing it hard to jockey in position for a slot in the top four as the elimination round for the Y’ cup ends in about a game or two.
Bracket “Y” clashes last Sunday October 15, 2017, saw ROC-A improving to a 5-1 win/loss card after winning against the BENECO-Voltz, bringing the team as the top contender in the semifinal round.
Action started with a see-saw battle between the opponents with Ahmed Al-shatti, J-ar Paladan, and Jomar Viado sparking ROC-A but equalized by Voltz Benjie Bajo, Arvin Gamboa, and Mike Tabula. The first quarter ended with both teams tied at 21-all.
Second canto action was no different as both ballclub’s jockeyed to control the boards. ROC posted a 20-18 run to gaina slight advantage at halftime, 41-39.
Getting the game beat, Coach Verek Ruiz strategized for a big offensive move on the third canto getting Rene Laguit, and Paul Moltio open looks from the the outside while parking J-ar Paladan in the shaded lane. Nanoy Mariano then did the rest as court general and his materialized assists brought the team to post a 38-20 blast and put the game away with leads as much as twenty big points and end the third quarter action up, 79-59.
The ROC-A squad simply coasted along with Ahmed Al-shatti penetrating the paint to maintain their lead at the end of the buzzer.
Meanwhile, in a crucial game for bracket “Y”, St. Andrews and the Dope Squad faced each other also last Sunday, to break a tie as both ball clubs carry a similar 3-3 win/loss card and the match became a must-win for the two contenders of a semis seat.
The Dope Squad managed to advance in the tight game of cat and mouse first canto through a tight defensive stance of St. Andrews. Ryan Chloe pushed Dope to the lead in the last seconds of the quarter, 24-21.
Teammates Joris Montesa and David Ferrer joined the fray, also finding their mark in the basket, continued to push harder Dope and pad their lead to a four, 46-42, at the half.
St. Andrews strategized their offense at the start of the third and saw it materialized courtesy of Bong Encarnado and Clark Vallente who ended up hitting baskets to ignite a 23-17 run in the third and placed St. Andrews ahed by two point, 65-63 at the end of the third.
A see-saw situation ensued in the fourth and Dope came back and take a one point lead in the dying minutes, 82-81. St. Andrews, however, answered with a connection to get back the lead, 83-82. Dope then would loss possession and had to give up three consecutive fouls that sent St. Andrews to the fifteen foot line in desperation.
St. Andrews connect on five free throws to ice the game.
Other winners in last week’s games were: COMELEC 94 – Organo Gold 75, Spears 76 – Jumong 73, Knights 84 – Bloothers 49, Supreme 59 – MTH-Baguio 48–, Inatech 77 – Kuya Ponz 68, Stingers 104 – Stallion 77.
