BAGUIO CITY – The top two teams in the 13th YMCA CUP Members Division emerged as the finalists for this year’s championship clashes. After their clashes in the elimination round that ended last week, and with the committees’ ruling of a best of three games for the top two teams to determine the champion of the tournament, Team A, with a 5-1 win-loss card, will be seeing action against Team C with a recorded 4-2 win-loss card.
Team D and Team B will also engage in a best of three series for the 2nd runner up in games set for next week.
On the other hand, Team YMCA and RC Bros, posting cards of 6-1 and 5-2, respectively, in the religious group category advances to the semifinal round while the third to sixth placed teams battle in a cross-over quarterfinals.
An authoritative decision through quotient system decided the third to fifth placers in the division because of a triple tie between the Anglican Angels, Saints, and New Life, posting a 4-3 win/loss cards for the third to fifth slots respectively, while UCCP Sentinels at 3-3 win/loss record came in sixth to complete the top six slots in the tournament.
Following the rules of the tournament, the top two teams will receive a bye, awaiting the winners of the quarterfinals between the Anglican Angels (3) vs. UCCP Sentinels (6), and the Saints (4) vs. New Life (5). Both the Angels and the Saints enjoy twice to beat advantage in the matches scheduled last May 12.
Meanwhile, a championship like do-or-die game between Team YMCA and the UCCP Sentinels gut the crowd roaring during their last game in the elimination round last May 10 in the evening. A UCCP Sentinels win should make them third in the Religious group category.
Powered by their eagerness to win, the Sentinels came out strong on the first canto of play with their momentum and offensive strategy working for them, got the front seat finish out of the first canto 26-24. They continuously worked to increase their lead by five points 50-45 at the end of the first half of play.
Team YMCA, however, found their mark in the second half. Basket conversions from the field caught the Sentinels flat-footed on the third canto, causing them to convert only 13 points against 24 big points by Team YMCA that reversed the lead to a 69-63 third canto score.
The Sentinels again fell prey in the fourth canto to the steady shooting of Team YMCA, and had them losing their momentum as the game continued with the Y’ers converting 23 points against their 21. The game ended at 92-84 in favour of Team YMCA at the end of the fourth canto play.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN
