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NAPA Auto Parts makes Final Four
NAPA Auto Parts relied on the sweet-shooting duo of James Abuy and Preston Basa to oust Pacific Best Choice and in the process barge into the Final Four of the open division of the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League.
With Abuy and Basa connecting from the land of plenty all game long, NAPA Auto Parts routed Pacific Best Choice, 89-75, last Sunday at the Koblerville Basketball Court.
Abuy got NAPA Auto Parts going in the first quarter as the gunner exploded for 12 points to give them a 27-16 lead.
It was Basa’s turn to smolder in the second quarter as the many-time national player equalled Abuy’s 12-point quarter in the first with a dozen of his own, which allowed NAPA Auto Parts to go up, 58-32, at the half.
The duo slowed down a bit at the start of second half, but fortunately for NAPA Auto Parts, their defense continued to limit Pacific Best Choice and they led, 68-49, going into the fourth and final quarter.
Leo Galarse and Jessie Bobares spearheaded a gallant payoff period uprising by Pacific Best Choice, but the rally came too little, too late as NAPA Auto Parts closed with the 14-point win.
Abuy and Basa paced NAPA Auto Parts in the win with 26 and 23 points, respectively. Center Jorge De Guzman also chipped in 12 markers. Pacific Best Choice’s losing cause, meanwhile, was led by the 25 points of Galarse and 23 points of Bobares.
With the win, NAPA Auto Parts secured the fourth seed in next Sunday’s one-game semifinal starting at 9am against undefeated Blue Haus. The other Final Four pairing beginning at 10:30am will have No. 2 Chang Ming Market against No. 3 JTM Saipan.
The winners will then duke it out for all the marbles in an afternoon playdate on Feb. 19, also at the Koblerville Basketball Court.
The masters championship between Blue Haus and JSN Construction is also set in the afternoon of Feb. 19 with the battle for third in both divisions set in the morning.
NAPA Auto Parts 89 – Abuy 26, Basa 23, De Guzman 12, Ege 8, Fundador 7, Carag 6, Esmundo 5, Tibayan 5, Diaz 4.Pacific
Best Choice 75 – Galarse 25, Bobares 23, Chua 6, Hipolito 6, Natividad 5, Albert 4, Camacho 2, Augusto 2.
Scoring by quarters: 27-16, 58-32, 68-49, 89-75.
