Ask Y U B gets first semis berth

Ask Y U B’s Sid Quan fakes off the defense of KB Market’s Edwin Santos during the fourth quarter of their playoff game in the open division of the San Antonio caging last Monday night at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ask Y U B booked the first semis ticket in the open east division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League after downing KB Market, 82-74, in a highly physical playoff match last Monday night at the San Antonio court.

Ask Y U B played better basketball in the second half to eliminate KB Market and march ahead to the Final Four round.

Down by a hair at halftime, 22-23, Ask Y U B opened a 56-40 advantage at the end of the third period behind the hot shooting of Jethro Cruz. The lefty shooter scored 21 of his game-high 26 points in the pivotal third canto, including three triples to set the stage for an Ask Y U B victory.

Cruz outgunned the entire KB Market crew in the third period, as the ousted squad seemed to have lost its focus on the game after engaging Ask Y U B in a pushing and shoving match. Only Leo Galarse, who suffered a bad fall late in the fourth quarter, hit more than two field goals for KB Market in the third-quarter letdown.

KB Market’s offense was so disorganized that whoever had possession quickly went for the basket instead of finding the open man. At this juncture, KB Market clearly missed the services of point guard Nate Mateo, who was stuck in Guam.

While KB Market could not get their offensive game going, Ask Y U did a good job spotting Cruz for the open long jumpers. On a few occasions, Djay Ong and Sid Quan were also there nailing short jumpers, while big man Alex Standish and Brady Hammon took care of the boards.

With Ask Y U B doing well on both ends of the court, it stretched its lead to as much as 19 early in the fourth, 67-48, off Cruz’s fourth triple in the night.

KB Market tried to mount a rally, but managed to move only within 8, 69-77, with just 1:04 left on the clock. KB Market could have lowered down the deficit further if not for its free throw woes in the homestretch. I went only 5-for-12 in the final four minutes of the match, while Ask Y U B hit 5-for-8 with Quan and Cruz nailing two charities each and Hammond making a split.

Quan, who earlier committed Ask Y U B’s two free throw misses, backed up Cruz by tallying 20 points, while Ong was the other double-figure scorer on the team with 13. Standish and Dave Camacho chipped in 8 apiece, while Hammond and Keoni Charition completed Ask Y U B’s box scored, contributing 5 and 2, respectively. Ask Y U B played sans former CNMI national team member Marvin Rabauliman and another scorer Donovan Brennan, while KB Market was also without Christian Devero and Ryan Manglona.

With some of their gunners missing, both Ask Y U B and KB Market struggled offensively early in the match, as the first half ended with the game tied, 6-all. Standish scored 4 points for Ask Y U B, while Ong made the other basket. Matt Duenas also drilled 4 markers for KB Market, while Lerio Pagarao posted the 2 other points. Both Duenas and Pagarao failed to hit baskets in streaks in the last three quarters, allowing fourth-ranked Ask Y U B to oust fifth-seeded KB Market.

Ask Y U B finished the regular season with a 5-2 record, tying the Sonics and Islander, while KB Market held a 3-4 mark.

Ask Y U B 82 – Cruz 26, Quan 20, Ong 13, Camacho 8, Standish 8, Hammond 5, Chariton 2.

KB Market 74 – I. Devero 15, Duenas 14, Basa 8, Pagarao 8, Santos 4, Nonato 4.

Scoring by quarters: 6-6, 22-23, 56-40, 56-40, 82-74.