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Road to Bud Cup finals begins this weekend
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Posted on May 31 2006
The road to the finals of the 2006 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League kicks off this weekend with playoff action at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Having the honors of starting things off are three-time defending champion and third seed Ol’Aces-Budweiser, who will be battling 2005 Inter-Government Basketball League champion No Zone-Bacardi. The two will tip off at 6pm, with the Ol’Aces entering the game with a three-game win streak after dropping its first two games and No Zone holding a 1-4 regular season record, with its only win coming on opening day against the Ol’Aces.
The winner of the bout will advance to face No. 2 seed Wells Fargo CNMI Nationals in the semifinals at 8pm on Sunday. The Nationals, who earned a first-round bye after securing the second best finish in the league, had success against both teams during the regular season, edging the Ol’Aces and winning via forfeit over No Zone.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s second bout will be between No. 4 Microl-Bud Ice and No. 5 Cyclones-O’Doul’s as the two are scheduled to face off at 8pm. Microl defeated the Cyclones during the regular season, however, after winning its first two games, has lost three straight to close the regular round. The Cyclones enter with a 1-4 record, picking up its only win via forfeit over No Zone.
The winner of the Microl-Cyclones contest will earn a shot at pennant champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Bud Light, which finished the regular season with a 4-1 card. SIP was tied with the CNMI Nationals, however, because the team defeated the Nationals on opening day, it held the tiebreaker advantage. The semifinal bout will be played on Sunday at 6pm.
The two teams that come out victorious in the semifinals will earn tickets to the championship game, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 10, 8pm. Preceding the title bout is the consolation game, which will be between the two teams that lose in the semifinals. The consolation bout is set for 6pm.
An awards ceremony will be held shortly after a champion is crowned.
The Bud Cup serves as a venue for the CNMI Nationals to prep for the upcoming 6th Micronesian Games, which will be held on Saipan from June 23 to July 2.
