MDX/Armatech makes Final Four

MDX/Armatech secured a Final Four berth after whipping SWAFSO/Ebisuya, 98-64, at the start of the playoff round in the UFO Inter-Organization Masters Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 on Thursday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

MDX/Armatech now joins pennant champion Cabalen/Wings Travel in the semifinals, while SWAFSO/Ebisuya must win its next game against the loser of the VisMinda/PIAHI/-MAFEA/RNV tiff to advance to the Final Four. VisMinda and MAFEA will square off for the third semis seat on Tuesday, Sept. 20, while the fourth and last semis ticket will be contested on Thursday, Sept.22.

The first playoff game in the masters division was done right after the opening quarter, as MDX zoomed to a commanding 26-6 lead. SWAFSO/Ebisuya fell apart early, as it played with a depleted crew, having only six players for the match.

MDX capitalized on SWAFSO/Ebisuya’s lack of manpower early on with almost all of the former’s players who suited up in the first quarter making it to the scoreboard. Three players nailed at least five points each for MDX.

SWAFSO/Ebisuya picked up its scoring in the second period with Mike Surima, firing 13 straight markers at one point in that frame. However, his one-man show was not enough to bring SWAFSO/Ebisuya back into the match, as MDX still outgunned them, 28-17. By halftime, MDX was way ahead, 54-23.

Then after improving its offense in the second canto, SWAFSO/Ebisuya was back on a cold mode in the third, making only nine points. Again, only Surima managed to pile up points for SWAFSO/Ebisuya, nailing seven of their total production in the third period.

MDX kept its 20-plus production, drilling 21 markers to pad the lead to 33 points, 75-32, entering the final quarter.

With its six-man crew, there was no way SWAFSO/Ebisuya could overhaul the huge deficit in the payoff period, moving the team in the brink of elimination.

Bernard Montano paced MDX with 21 points, while Bruce Berline and Arnold Crisostomo chipped in 15 and 12, respectively. Four other MDX players added at least six points apiece in the team’s balance offense.

Surima led all scorers with his 29 markers, while Joel Buniag and Dionie Malicdem finished with 12 markers apiece, but most of their baskets were giveaways.

[B]MDX/Armatech 98[/B] – Montano 21, Berline 15, A. Crisostomo 12, Canedo 9, Moreno 9, Banatasa 7, Abuy 6, Jinang 5, Trajano 4, Malasarte 3, P. Crisostomo 2.

[B]SWAFSO/Ebisuya 64[/B] – Surima 29, Buniag 12, Malicdem 12, Rio 7, Echavez 4.

[B]Scoring by quarters[/B]: 26-6, 54-23, 75-32, 98-64.