Jets pilot way into UFO finals

The AFP/Jets secured the second and last finals slot in the UFO Inter-Organization Youth Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 after outclassing MDX/Armatech, 89-85, in their semis match on Saturday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

The Jets will play Filcag/Rollers in the one-game championship duel this Saturday, while MDX will meet Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense in the consolation game before the title tiff.

The Filcag/Rollers-Jets championship showdown was arranged after the latter survived MDX’s repeated comeback bids in the fourth quarter and canned crucial free throws to keep the win. MDX faltered on its bid to steal the game after having poor shot selection and committing a couple of errors in the homestretch.

MDX threatened the Jets, 83-86, with 42.6 seconds to go, after Matt Duenas made a steal in the Jets inbound play and drilled a layup. However, after the basket, Duenas was called for a technical foul on an infraction in the Jets’ inbound play

The Jets’ Sahj Hossain went on to split his free throws and his team retained possession, but failed to cash in on its offensive set, keeping its lead at four, 87-83, with 37.6 seconds left on the clock.

Facing a manageable margin with still a lot of time left in the fourth canto, MDX opted for a triple instead of a quick two and Pedro Castro’s attempt from the right key was too strong. The Jets collared the rebound and MDX was forced to foul Eugene Manglona to stop the clock, which stood at 33.9 seconds.

Manglona, who earlier was 1-for-2 at the stripe, this time canned both charities, giving the Jets enough cushion, 89-83. MDX then committed an error in the ensuing play with its inbound pass intercepted by Ezra Caro. However, Ian Benavente also lost possession after getting the pass from Caro and Christian Devero connected on a layup. Despite Devero’s basket, there was no way MDX could catch up as it was still behind by four points and time had almost ran out. The Jets melted down the remaining seconds on the clock after Devero’s convertion to clinch the second finals berth.

Cadiang top-scored for the Jets with 24 points, while Hossain chipped in 21. Caro and Manglona also finished in double figures with 12 and 10 markers, respectively.

The quartet teamed up in the Jets’ second-quarter attack where they outgunned MDX, 28-19, to turn an 18-23 deficit at the end of the first period to a 46-42 halftime lead.

The Jets protected the driver’s seat in the third canto with Hossain and Cadiang still on target and coach Leo Canedo drawing contributions from every player he fielded on the court.

In contrast, MDX coach Peter Crisostomo kept shuffling his men, as he could not find the right combination on the floor and his team still trailed after three periods, 59-66.

The Jets then started the fourth quarter with back-to-back triples from Hossain and Cadiang for their biggest lead, 71-59, and this forced MDX to call an early time out. MDX regrouped and slowly sliced the Jets’ lead, but the former could not complete the recovery, as Hossain and company played steady in the closing seconds of the match.

Duenas led MDX’s losing cause with his game-high 29 markers.
[B] AFP/Jets 89[/B] – Cadiang 24, Hossain 21, Caro 12, Manglona 10, Webb 6, Deleon Guerrero 5, Benavente 3, De Leon 3, Sambile 2.
[B] MDX/Armatech 85[/B] – Duenas 29, Devero 20, Castro 11, Rollon 7, Vertudez 6, Metran 4, Feria 3, Ano 3, Maranan 2.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 18-23, 46-42, 66-59, 89-85.