Ol’Aces vs 670 Sonics in finals

The Ol’Aces’ Marvin Rabauliman, right, and the Genesis All-Stars’ James Kintz battle for the rebound during the fourth quarter of their semis game in the MIBF island-wide caging last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The title showdown in the men’s division of the 2018 MIBF Island-wide Basketball League will be between the Top 2 teams after all.

Pennant champions Ol’Aces moved into the finals first following a 93-70 demolition of the Genesis All-Stars, while the 670 Sonics took the same easy route to the finale after whipping Casino, 104-72, in the second semis game last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Game 1 of the best-of-three finals will be played tonight at 7:30pm with the unbeaten Ol’Aces, who had a 7-0 record in the regular season, favored against No. 2 670 Sonics (6-1).

The Ol’Aces stretched their winning run to nine (they got their eighth victory versus the Chalan Kanoa Ballers in the first round of the playoffs) after dominating the Genesis All-Stars right out of the gate. The Ol’Aces took a 23-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and kept pounding on the Genesis All-Stars in the remainder of the game for the lopsided win.

The Genesis All-Stars were limited to four field goals in the first quarter and though they picked up their scoring in the second, their main gunner Ken Viray seemed out of sync. Viray was held to one field goal and a pair of free throws in the first half.

While the Genesis All-Stars offense lacked luster, it was a different story for the Ol’Aces, who drew points from almost all the players they fielded in the game. Douglas Schmidt dropped 9 of his total output in the first quarter for their early double-digit lead.

Schmidt and three other Ol’Aces players ended up scoring in twin digits, while three more chipped in at least 6 markers each. Coby Santos tallied 19, Schmidt had 17, and Dean Blake and Preston Basa recorded 13 and 11, respectively.

In the second semis game, Matt Duenas picked up where he left off, as he towed the 670 Sonics to another victory.

Duenas, who had 47 points in their playoff win over the Saints last Friday, sizzled for 32 against Casino. He caught fire early, making 10 points in the first period for their 20-14 advantage. Duenas and company went on pad their lead in the ensuing quarters to ease their way to the finals.

First Game
Ol’Aces 93 — Santos 19, Schmidt 17, Blake 13, Basa 11, Rabauliman 8, Atan 8, Libuw 6, Siech 6, Deleon Guerrero 5.
Genesis All-Stars 70 — Fitial 16, Viray 13, Kintz 11, Lauron 10, Itibus 8, Lizama 5, Rangamar 3, Quan 2, Sambile 2.
Scoring by quarters: 23-8, 47-22, 69-43, 93-70.

Second Game
670 Sonics 104 — M. Duenas 32, E. Duenas 14, Ngeskebei 13, Aranda 12, Rabasto 9, Ordona 9, Fidelino 6, Abobo 4, B. De Guzman 3, Rafols 3.
Casino 72 — Marinas 21, Sanguyo 18, Serrano 10, Pastolero 8, Pantaleon 6, Book 5, Sebastian4, Atencio 2.