Cabalen/Wings Travel back in finals

Cabalen/Wings Travel earned a return trip to the finals after pounding MAFEA/RNV, 87-63, in their semis match in the UFO Inter-Organization Masters Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 on Tuesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Cabalen, which won last year’s masters championship against MAFEA/Ebisuya, broke its semis foe’s back in the second quarter and protected its double-digit lead in the second half en route to the easy victory. The defending champions will now face the winner of the MDX/Armatech-VisMinda/PIAHI tiff in the one-game finals next week.

MAFEA/RNV, which dropped to the consolation game after the semis loss, stayed in the match only in the first period when it fell behind by a deuce, 12-14.

In the second quarter, MAFEA started having problems on its offense with its limited option, as the team was without Danny Bicera and Ferdie de la Torre.

In contrast Cabalen’s shooters started to click in the second frame and the defending champions took full control of the match. Edsel Mendoza and Eric Atalig teamed up in the breakaway, scoring nine and eight points, respectively.

Cabalen exploded for 31 points in the second canto against MAFEA’s 15 for a big 45-27 advantage at the break.

After missing the first half, De la Torre showed up in the third quarter and gave MAFEA instant offense, firing six straight points midway in that canto. With de la Torre’s contribution, MAFEA managed to moved within 13, 41-54. However, a nasty cut on his right hand broke de la Torre’s momentum and forced him to sit out in the last three minut7es of the third and the entire fourth quarter.

De la Torre sustained the injury when he tried to recover a loose ball and his hand slammed to one of the players’ shoe before he dropped on the ground and unconsciously used the damaged hand for cushion.

With de la Torre out, MAFEA scored only two points in the remaining minutes of the third canto, while Cabalen pulled away further, 64-43, with only one quarter to go.

Next up to leave the floor for MAFEA was Elmer Pineda, who opted to sit out the remaining six minutes of the match to cool down after getting involved in a confrontation with Cabalen’s Mike Cruz.

Both Cruz and Pineda were called for technical fouls due to second motion at the 6:16 mark of the final canto with Cabalen comfortably ahead, 66-45. The incident was fueled by an earlier collision between the two players on MAFEA’s froncourt. Cruz collared the rebound after Pineda’s miss and as the former tried to protect the leather, his wayward elbow almost hit the latter.

When it was Cabalen’s turn to execute its offense, Cruz pulled up for a jumper near the 15-foot line and Pineda used his right arm to push off the former. Cruz lost his balance and the referee called a foul on Pineda. After the infraction, Cruz and Pineda pushed each other and traded heated words. Other players and game officials then stepped in to prevent the fight from escalating.

When the game resumed MAFEA began waving the white flag and just watched Cabalen walk away with easy shots.

Tony Diaz top-scored for Cabalen with 24 points, while Mendoza chipped in 22. Atalig also finished in double figures with 12.

Dado Vistal paced MAFEA with 20 markers, while Ed Manalili and Ed Cosino added 12 and 10, respectively.

Cabalen/Wings Travel 87 – Diaz 24, Mendoza 22, Atalig 12, Cruz 6, Palacios 6, Santos 4, Ocampo 4, Macoto 2, Morales 2.

MAFEA/RNV 63 – Vistal 20, Manalili 12, Cosino 10, de la Torre 6, Canoy 5, Sevilla 4, Pineda 4, Guirey 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 45-27, 64-43, 87-63.