BAGUIO CITY – Team A toppled Team C in a close fight ensuing during the first game of the YMCA Cup’s Membership finals last May 17, 2017 at the YMCA Gym, here.
Both combatants geared up with good performances as the first canto action saw Team C building a slight advantage in a see-saw clash. Team C took the driver’s seat with good offensive strategies to bait for fouls and a couple of three point baskets after the first quarter, 21-17.
Pushing a hard game, Team A finally found their mark as they converted a couple of three pointers in the rainbow area along with an imposing defense to bring the team’s momentum on a rise and equalize the situation in the dying seconds of the second canto, 44-all to end the first half of play.
A must do offensive strategy for both opponents saw the third canto action to be even more exciting with both teams persistently going for the basket posting six deadlocks from the beginning until the dying minutes of the third quarter. Team A, however, converted two more baskets in the field, including one with only 18 ticks remaining, to take the upper hand, 65-61, at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth quarter action gave more pressure to both opponents as a see-saw battle ensued. That aroused aggressiveness of the performers to force turnovers and fouls on both sides in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter.
Team C got under penalty with less than four minutes left in the game had the burden of pressure as Team A has yet to give up fouls.
With less than two minutes left in the ballgame and Team A leading by a point 91-90, Team C applied more pressure but ended up giving up another foul to send Team A in the fifteen foot line. Team A converted both charities to increase their lead by three points, 93-90. Team C, however, buried an equalizer from the three point area to tie the score anew, 93-all.
With only 18.6 ticks left, Team C gave up two consecutive fouls that brought Team A in the fifteen foot line, who converting three of four free throws to lead by three points 96-93 with 3.9 seconds left. Team C, however, another equalizer from the three point line to force an overtime.
Anent persistency of Team C performers to come up with an offensive strategy, Team A controlled the boards to fuel their offense and grabbed a two point, 108-106 lead in the dying seconds of the overtime and had possession of the ball.
Desperate for double overtime, Team C however gave up a foul in the three point area that send Team A in the fifteen foot line and converting all three free throws that added to their lead, 111-106, for the final score.
Meanwhile, battle for third match between Team B and D was as much exciting. Both teams engaged a close fight, ending the first canto of play with a tie 23-all tie and Team D with a slight advantage to finish the first half, 42-40.
Team B however, came back strong during the third canto of play to take the driver’s seat, posting a 66-63 third canto score that continuously pushed the team to take control of the game to win the first match of a best of three series by one point, a 90-89 count at the end of the fourth quarter buzzer.
On the other hand, the Angels and New Life slashed the hopes of the Saints and UCCP Sentinels and advanced to the semifinals as they hacked out victories in the Religious Division YMCA CUP quarter finals last May 12, 2017.
The Anglican Angels, seeded 3rd, dominated the start of game with a 22-13 run in the first canto of play that spilled over to the second canto. The Angels gained control of the boards to maintain their lead, 35-27, at the end of the first half buzzer.
Second half action saw the Sentinels, ranked 6th, pushing their way up as they chipped off the lead by posting a 23-17 run in the third canto that ended with the Angels leading just by two, 52-50.
Looking for the chance to outlast the Angels, the Sentinels tied the ballgame at 61-all in the dying minutes of the fourth canto. The Angels, however, countered with a 6-0 blast until the final buzzer sounded to win the game, 67-61, to earn a slot in the semi-final round.
On the other hand, the 4th-ranked Saints had the same faith as the 5th-seed New Life gave them a good battle, even dominating the boards early in igniting a 19-13 burst in the first canto of play. The Saints however, was not an easy prey for the younger New Life, as they employed their veteran savvy to command a 20-12 counter attack in the second canto to take the lead, 33-31, at the end of the first half action.
The third canto action was at an equal footing between combatants with New Life posting a 15-17 run that turned in a see-saw game and ended in a deadlock 48-48 at the end of the third canto.
More of the furious exchanges went on the fourth canto. Both teams found their mark to register five more deadlocks until the dying minute of the game, the last at, 71-all. The Saints, however, succumbed to giving up two consecutive fouls that brought New Life to the fifteen foot line that resulted to the conversion of four free throws for the final score 75-71 pushing them to advance in the semifinal round.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN
