UFO-San Miguel Cup gets deeper into playoffs

Despite the rainy conditions, the playoffs of the 2004 UFO-San Miguel Cup is expected to heat up this weekend with six games slated at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The double-elimination phase of the league continues tonight with the game between FASA-PABA-CNC Inc. and MAFILWA-McDonald’s at 6pm.

FASA has blown hot and cold throughout the season but expect big guns Jhun Estolas, Errol Peredo, Junar Guiab, and youth standout Kevin Cequena to step up as the going get tougher.

But they have to be wary of MAFILWA, so far the surprise team of the season. With their backs against the wall– another loss and that’s it for the fastfood kings – leading scorer Joseph Achas, center Larry Lizo, playmaker Ferdie Tobias and the rest of the gang will do everything in their powers to score another upset.

The second game at 8pm then features three-time champion SIP-Verizon taking on Bicol-Sabungero. SIP has rattled off wins in a jiffy ever since falling to Cabalen-RP Construction in the first round.

Playing coach Rick Alegre is expected to again call on his youthful core made up of two-sport star Jester Garcia, rookie sensation Jason Amado, and last year’s Rookie of the Year James Villacrusis.

Bicol, for their part, must draw inspired games from Rotary stud Rowell Aranda and former-Diamond Hotel dribblers Julius Tabomo and John Jugos. Another loss and that’s all she wrote for Bicol.

UFO’s Saturday schedule then pits Bartenders-Aliviera Sports Bar against Laguna-GEC Pawnshop in the 6pm first game, and then Cabalen versus MDX Amateur Radio Club starting at 8pm.

Bartenders underachieved in the first round but better things are expected from coach Manny Barcial’s group, especially after they received a wake-up call against MAFILWA last time out.

Perimeter threat Marco Garcia, tower Dalewin Cortez, bruiser Joy Dayrit, do-it-all Bogs Dayrit, and athletic Elmer Esdrelon will form the vanguard for Bartenders.

Coach Jerry “Mutombo” Lopez of Laguna, for his part, will have to play an up-tempo ballgame to try and nullify Bartenders’ height advantage. Lopez also should cross his fingers that shooter Ed Palma and his cadre of young guns, Leo Barrios and Kevin Aldan, are on the same page or its the door for Laguna.

The only thing Cabalen should watch out for in the game against MDX is overconfidence as their five of Ronald Delos Reyes, Darwin Barbo, Alex Ocampo, Paul Magcalas, and Joseph Gatdula could more than hold their own against the top teams of the league much less against a winless team. Expect Martin Moreno to have another spectacular game but powerless to prevent MDX from biding the season adieu.

The all-Filipino league wraps up its weekend extravaganza on Sunday with SMF-Seabridge taking on Bayani in the first game and defending champion Visminda-Country House squaring off against LIPS-Jam Construction in the second game.