Cabalen beats FASA, settles for third

Cabalen-RP Construction got a silver lining in their otherwise frustrating season, bagging third place in the 2004 UFO San Miguel Cup after drubbing FASA PABA-CNC Inc. 109-97 Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Serving as a prelude to Sunday’s finals between defending champion Visminda-Country House and three-time titlist SIP-Verizion, the EC Communication and Transamerica-backed squad weathered a stormy first quarter before upending a FASA team that dropped its fourth straight game.

FASA coach Marvin Deocares was already at a disadvantage even before the beginning of the match, as he had only seven available players, including himself, when the two teams jumped at center court.

Remarkably, FASA got off to a great start dumbfounding Cabalen coach Elmer Pineda by erecting an early double-digit spread in the first quarter.

Fortunately for Pineda and Cabalen, youthful slotman Ryan Mendoza came to the rescue and immediately doused cold water on FASA’s fiery start trimming their lead to a manageable 3 points, 17-14, going into the second quarter.

Then things began to turn ugly for FASA in the second. With their game plan in place, Cabalen started to run and gun against a depleted FASA team and this resulted in a number of fastbreak points for last year’s losing finalists.

At a blink of an eye, FASA’s lead was gone and Cabalen took the upperhand as eight different players for Pineda got themselves into the scoreboard spearheaded by the 6 points of tall point guard Randy Arnedo.

Despite the 10 second-quarter points of FASA one-man show Jhun Estolas, Cabalen took the driver’s seat at the half, 38-29.

Both teams coasted in the third quarter with Arnedo and power forward Rico Canlas trading baskets with Estolas and swingman Errol Peredo. FASA also decided to fight fire with fire, unleashing a running game with minimal success as Cabalen continued to enjoy a hefty advantage of 10 points entering the fourth and final quarter.

The payoff period was anything but for FASA. With the third place trophy in the horizon Cabalen only stepped harder on the accelerator and left their tiring opponents biting their dust.

With Cabalen flirting with a 20-point lead, Pineda brought out veterans Joseph Gatdula and George Barbo from the bench for mop-up duty and the duo didn’t disappoint, delivering the coupe de grace.

“At least we salvaged third place. It was a very difficult season for us. We started with high expectations and we were right on target when we went undefeated in the eliminations. But we lost steam in the playoffs. Second runner-up would have to do for now. Wait until next year,” said Pineda after the match.

Arnedo paced Cabalen’s charge with 25 points to go along with his 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Mendoza was also solid pumping in 15 points and hauling down 14 boards. But it was the play of Canlas that caught the eye of UFO officials after the bull-strong forward scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds en route to winning MVP of the game honors.

Estolas had another high-scoring game end in defeat. The cat-quick guard finished with 41 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Peredo chipped in 25 and 5 rebounds for FASA.

Cabalen 109 – Arnedo 25, Mendoza 15, Canlas 14, Magcalas 13, Jo. Gatdula 12, Alipio 10, Sinca 6, Ocampo 6, Barbo 6, Pantola 2.

FASA PABA 97 – Estolas 41, Peredo 25, Guiab 12, Villarin 11, Cequena 6, Dela Torre 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 38-29, 73-63, 109-97.

Referees: Gabriel White and Jess Fabula.