Sweep for MDX/Armatech

  Defending champion MDX/Armatech kept its unbeaten record in the regular season of the 2012 UFO Masters Budweiser Cup, following a 90-62 demolition of VisMinda/Civic Boys last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

MDX finished the round-robin regular season with a 5-0 slate, ahead of Bayani/LBT Appraisal (3-1), Laguna/Twinkle/Erika’s (3-2), Batangas/Fong’s Bakery (2-2), VisMinda/Civic Boys (1-4), and MAFEA/CMI (0-5). Batangas and Bayani square off for the last regular season game tonight. All six teams will compete in the playoff round with the format of the post-season to be discussed this weekend.

A 23-13 scoring in the opening quarter was enough to give MDX control of the lopsided game. Bruce Berline was a force in the paint for MDX early on, scoring 11 of his 21 markers in the opening canto.

It was still all MDX in the next three quarters with Berline taking care of things inside and guards James Abuy and Ferdie Tobias doing the damage in the perimeter. Abuy finished with 13 points, while Tobias added 12, stepping up in absence of fellow guard, Martin Moreno.

Bobby Geli, who exploded for 36 points in their 84-97 loss to Batangas last Thursday, had another monster game, firing 30 markers. However, he drew little support from his teammates, as Roy Miguel was the only other VisMinda player to score double figures with 11.

VisMinda was held to no more than 14 points in three of the four quarters, showing its best offensive game in the second canto with its 23 markers. In contrast, MDX consistently nailed 20-plus points in four periods.

MDX still outgunned VisMinda in the second frame, 25-23, for a 12-point halftime lead, 48-26, and then pulled away completely in the third with a 21-12 scoring for a 69-48 advantage, entering the fourth canto.

Laguna 87, MAFEA 72

The second game in the penultimate day of the regular season also resulted in a rout with Laguna on the winning end of the one-sided affair.

Laguna held MAFEA to four field goals in the opening quarter for an early double-digit lead, 24-10. Sonny Ebuen and Hae Jun Park teamed up in the good start, combining for 12 points.

In the second quarter, MAFEA managed to keep up with Laguna, 19-18, but the latter answered with a 20-9 scoring in the third canto to break the game wide open.

Ebuen went on to top-score for Laguna with 27 points, while Dindo Pablo contributed 15, and Ed Pangilinan and Erlan Lansang drilled 13 apiece.

Mike Sumira was the lone bright spot for the winless MAFEA with his 23 points. Dionisio Manicden had 11, but most of his points were made when the game was already decided.

First Game

MDX/Armatech 90 – Berline 21, Abuy 13, Tobias 12, Crisostomo 11, Malasarte 9, Canedo 7, Poquiz 5, Jinang 4, Gabaldon 1.

VisMinda/Civic Boys 62 – Geli 30, Miguel 11, Olfindo 6, Bello 6, Sevilla 4, Quemado 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-13, 48-36, 69-48, 90-62.

Second Game

Laguna/Twinkle/Erika’s 87 – Ebuen 27, Pablo 15, Pangilinan 13, Lansang 13, Guerrero 8, Park 8, Lopez 4.

MAFEA/CMI 52 – Surima 21, Manicden 11, Paraiso 6, Leong 6, Garcia 3, Jastillana 2, Guirey 1.

Scoring by quarters: 24-10, 42-29, 62-38, 87-52.