Blue Haus enters semis; PIC, GMJ/IKKI in standoff

Pacific Islands Club’s Sean Rabasto splits the defense of GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s Ignacio Borja, left, and Marlon Sison during the second quarter of their semis game in the west division of the San Antonio caging last Tuesday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus completed the semis cast in the west division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League, while the battle for the first finals berth in that group has yet to be decided as Pacific Islands Club and GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s game was rained-out last Tuesday night at the San Antonio court.

Blue Haus played in the first game against Armatech and cruised to an 84-66 victory to join PIC, GMJ/IKKI, and Cholos 8th Division in the Final Four. PIC and GMJ/IKKI collided in the second match of the night, but the game was suspended at the 8:39 mark of the third quarter with the game tied at 36-all due to rain.

The match will resume on a later date (opposing teams still have yet to agree with the date of the continuation) with GMJ/IKKI’s Allison Dizon taking two free throws after drawing a foul on PIC’s Darwin Barbo. The second half of the semis game began with GMJ/IKKI holding a 36-32 lead. PIC then managed to force a deadlock early in the third after Raymark Castro canned a short baseline jumper and Jack Aranda connected on his daredevil drive.

While the PIC- GMJ/IKKI tiff was a close match, it was a different story for the playoff game between Blue Haus and Armatech.

Blue Haus set up the easy win after breaking away in the second quarter, which started with the winning squad ahead by only 6, 20-14. Blue Haus then made it a 42-28 advantage at halftime after spreading the wealth in the second period. Six different players hit the board for Blue Haus in the second frame with Jeff Garcia leading the way, knocking in 7 markers off the bench.

Blue Haus went on to continue drawing baskets from every player in fielded in the game in the third quarter, while Armatech still could not get its offensive game going with only Mike Asuhan converting more than one field goal for his squad.

By the end of the third, Blue Haus has increased its advantage to 28, 68-40, and with the game in the bag it slowed down a bit in the final period, while Armatech started to pick up garbage points to bring the deficit to 18 in the end.

Marlon De Dios and Garcia led four Blue Haus players who scored in double figures, recording 12 apiece. Manolo Manalo and Angelo Fernando chipped in 10 each, while Brendon Talania, Bruce Berline, Bert Demapan and Mel Capalad combined for 29 markers. Asuhan paced Armatech with his 17 points.

Meanwhile, Islander and Maplas duel for the second and last finals berth in the east division tonight with the winner facing MJD Enterprise in the title match.

Blue Haus 84 – De Dios 12, Garcia 12, Manalo 10, Fernando 10, Talania 9, Berline 8, Demapan 6, Capalad 6, Velalsco 2, Moises 2.

Armatech 66 – Asuhan 17, Crisostomo 14, Moreno 14, Tolosa 12, Malasarte 5, Canedo 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 42-28, 68-40, 84-66.