Blue Haus marches into finals; KB Hite stay alive

Blue Haus bagged the first finals berth, while KB Hite remained in contention for the last one as they defeated separate playoff foes in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Blue Haus’ Sam Fernandez pulls up for a floater against Bammy’s Restaurant’s Amor Zapata during the fourth quarter of their playoff game in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus advanced to the finals following a 79-71 win over Bammy’s Restaurant in the first game, while KB Hite stunned Armatech in a do-or-die nightcap, 75-64.

With the win, KB Hite faces Bammy’s tonight for the second finals berth with the winner meeting Blue Haus in the finals this Saturday. Blue Haus, which remained undefeated in the tournament, has a twice-to-beat advantage in the title showdown.

Blue Haus topped Bammy’s, which earlier pulled off an upset over the second-ranked Armatech, for the battle for the first finals berth after playing a balance offense and preventing its foes’ shooters from heating up.

Five Blue Haus players scored in twin digits with Tony Diaz leading the way with his 23 points. Edwin Santos and Junar Guiab added 12, while Edsel Mendoza chipped in 10. Sam Fernandez contributed 8, hitting 4 of them in the closing minutes to foil Bammy’s upset bid, while Ernie Moises also hit timely baskets and tallied 7.

Bammy’s kept Blue Haus within striking distance and even tied the game at 51-all midway in the third, but it simply could not overhaul the latter’s lead as the former failed to get baskets in streak from its shooters.

Alex Ocampo finished in double figures with 11, but made only two field goals in the entire second half and was scoreless in the fourth quarter. He either missed several of his patented pull-up jumpers or had limited touches against Blue Haus’ good defense.

With Ocampo off, Jun Tabora was forced to lead Bammy’s offense and help from Rodney Catalla and Jun Alipio came in late, as Blue Haus established a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and protected the driver’s seat.

Bammy’s clearly missed the services of big man Jorge De Guzman and Blue Haus capitalized on his absence with Guiab, Mendoza, and Santos dominating the paint and getting easy baskets off extra passes.

In the second game, KB Hite also took advantage of Armatech’s lack of firepower to pull off the upset and keep its finals hopes alive.

Armatech played without gunner James Abuy in the first three quarters, which ended with KB Hite threatening to pull away, 52-39.

Armatech was held to 8 points in the pivotal third, while KB Hite scored 18 to turn a 34-31 halftime edge to a baker’s dozen lead. Randy Mungcal and Ed Pangelinan teamed up in the third-quarter assault with the former making 6 points and the latter recording 8 off back-to-back triples late in that period and a short jumper early in the second half.

Facing a double-digit deficit, Armatech tried to claw its way back into the match with Abuy finally showing up in the fourth. However, Mungcal and Pangelinan countered Abuy’s baskets to keep KB Hite’s safe distance. Abuy still finished in twin digits with his 13 points, but it was not enough to save Armatech from getting the boot.

First Game
Blue Haus 79 – Diaz 23, Santos 12, Guiab 12, Mendoza 10, Fernandez 8, Moises 7, Palacios 3, Buenabajo 2.

Bammy’s 71 – J. Tabora 21, Catalla 13, Ocampo 11, Zapata 7, Alipio 7, Vargas 7, Saplan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-16, 40-34, 58-54, 79-71.

Second Game
KB Hite 75 – Mungcal 24, Pangelinan 17, Sison 8, Verano 7, Pineda 5, Montes 4, Garcia 2.

Armatech 64 – Montano 14, Tobias 13, Abuy 13, Berline 8, Gabaldon 7, Tolentino 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 34-31, 52-39, 75-64.