Judith’s notches semis berth in U18 division

Judith’s Hot Boys bagged the third semis slot in the U18 division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League following a 72-65 victory over KB Market last Sunday night at the San Antonio court.

Judith’s Hot Boys’ Mike Espinosa, center, drives against two KB Market defenders during their playoff game in the U18 division of the San Antonio caging last Sunday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Judith’s, formerly the Warriors, survived KB Market’s third-quarter rally to qualify to the Final Four along with automatic semifinalist GMI Market and Ferrera Builders. KB Market and the Sonics battle for the last semis seat tomorrow when they square off in the curtain-raiser at 5:30pm.

The highly-favored Judith’s, which finished second in the team standings in the regular season with its 3-1 record, seemed headed for the easy victory against the winless and last-ranked KB Market when the former opened a double-digit spread at halftime, 38-26. Mike Arciaga helped Judith’s build the 12-point advantage, scoring 14 points in the first half, while Espinosa also had double figures after the first 20 minutes of play, making 10.

However, Arciaga struggled in the third period, nailing only a field goal, while Espinosa was limited to 4 points, as the entire Judith’s crew registered only 8 markers, while KB Market collected 18 to mount a comeback. Quarterback Andrew Palino anchored KB Market’s recovery, as he scored 8 of the team’s last 11 points to slice the deficit to 2, 44-46, with still one full quarter to go. Palino also got help from Ace Mejia, who fired KB Market’s first 6 markers in the third.

In the fourth quarter, Arciaga and Espinosa failed to regain their form and contributed only a few baskets, but fortunately for Judith’s, Mike Muna and Gerald Flores stepped up to foil KB Market’s comeback bid. Muna, who was scoreless in the first three periods, recorded 7 points in the final canto, while Flores added 6, including two of Judith’s last three field goals.

Palino continued to pile up points for KB Market in the fourth frame, but could not get enough support from his teammates, as Mejia and Christian Itaas were the only other players who hit the board for the losing squad in the last quarter.

Palino led all scorers with his 27 points, while Espinosa and Arciaga had 21 and 20 for Judith’s, which drew 12 markers from Flores. Mejia and Itaas also had 12 points apiece for KB Market.

Meanwhile, once the Final Four cast is complete, the No. 1 and 4 teams (based on draw) will fight for the first finals berth, while the No. 2 and 3 squads will square off for the second finals ticket. The title match will be a winner-take-all affair.

Judith’s 72 – Espinosa 21, Arciaga 20, Flores 12, Malonzo 7, Muna 7, Factor 5.

KB Market 65 – Palino 27, Mejia 12, Itaas 12, Santos 8, Macagapal 4, Ogasawara 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-15, 38-26, 46-44, 72-65.