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Armatech, Rollers 1 ease way to finals
Armatech coasted to a 55-44 win over Shirley’s Coffee Shop to bag the first finals berth in the women’s division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.
Rollers 1’s Kobee Mendoza goes up for a shot against Ol’Aces defenders during their semis game in the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Irish Pagarao, Chevy Kate Alipio, and Jeralyn Castillo teamed up in bringing Armatech to the finals and extending the team’s winning run to 11 after sweeping the double-round robin elimination. The finals foe of the unbeaten and heavily favored Armatech will be determined tonight as the second-ranked IT&E and Fiesta Resort & Spa collide for the last finals berth at 5:30pm.
Pagarao, who missed Armatech’s last game in the elims, returned to action and scored 21 points, while Alipio and Castillo also finished in twin digits, drilling 16 and 10, respectively.
The trio combined for all but two of Armatech’s total output in the first half to give the team a 32-20 advantage at the turn. Pagarao tallied 14 points in the first half, making her last two shots from downtown.
Jeraldine Castillo tried to counter Pagarao’s scoring in the first and second half and had successes, but failed to draw enough support from her teammates. Jeraldine matched Pagarao’s output, but had only Patrishia Echavez helping her out. Echavez chipped in 12 markers, but most of her points came when Armatech was in full control of the match in the second half.
Meanwhile, in the boys U19 division, top-ranked Rollers 1 also eased its way to the finals after routing the Ol’Aces, 66-34.
The Rollers 1 started the semis match with a 7-0 run and never looked back to gain the first finals seat in the division. Rollers 1 will face the winner of tonight’s Final Four pairing between Sonics and Dream Team. The second semis game is set for 7pm, while the championship games in both the boys U19 and women’s divisions will be played tomorrow.
Armatech 55–Pagarao 21, Alipio 16, Castillo 10, Abrams 2, Fleming 2, Palero 2, Yiu 2.
Shirley’s 44–Castillo 21, Echavez 12, Pablo 8, Vergara 2, Ito 1.
Scoring by halves: 32-20, 55-44.
