Blue Haus slams door on Cholos

Blue Haus’ Elmer Esdrelon is fouled by Cholos’ Gerald Laguindam during the third quarter of their semis game in the San Antonio caging last Tuesday at the San Antonio court.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus moved closer to winning the overall championship in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League after topping Cholos, 70-64, in their semifinal game last Tuesday at the San Antonio court.

Blue Haus, which fell short in its bid for the west division title after bowing to GMJ/IKKI Wholesale in the finals, 81-75, dominated Cholos in the first half and hung on tight in the second to eliminate its foe and advance to the league championship game.

Marlon De Dios, Elmer Esdrelon, and Angelo Fernando teamed up in the semis win, as they combined for more than half of Blue Haus’ total output. De Dios led all scorers with his 18 markers, while Esdrelon and Fernando chipped in 14 and 10, respectively. The rest of Blue Haus’ players contributed at least 4 points apiece.

With De Dios, Esdrelon, and Fernando working together and getting some help from their teammates, Blue Haus opened a 36-25 halftime lead. The advantage then ballooned to as much as 16 points midway in the third period, 48-32, before Jerome Norita and Derrick Rangamar made little headway for Cholos to cut the deficit to 5, 48-53, going into the fourth canto.

In the final frame, Cholos kept Blue Haus within striking distance, but still the former could not overhaul the former’s lead after failing to neutralize De Dios. The Blue Haus big man scored 8 of the team’s last 10 points to foil Cholos’ come-from-behind bid.

Cholos marched into the semis after pulling off an upset against east division finalist MJD Enterprises last week, 90-85.

Cholos ran a balance offense to oust MJD, which was denied the championship for the second straight time after losing the east division finals to Islander, 75-79. Four Cholos players tallied double figures in their 5-point win against MJD with Jun Tabora leading the way with his 24 points. Rangamar added 21, while Rocyl Ritual and Gerald Laguindam recorded 13 and 12, respectively.

Freddie Pelisamen paced MJD with his 25 markers, as he tried to anchor the team’s recovery in the fourth canto after falling behind by 12 at the end of the third, 55-67.

Pelisamen scored MJD’s last four field goals, but Tabora countered with three baskets, while Laguindam made two to protect Cholos’ lead and set up a semis date with Blue Haus.

Meanwhile, GMJ/IKKI and Ask Y U B will collide in a win-or-go home game today with the victor facing Pacific Islands Club in the semifinal match on Tuesday. The remaining squad after these two games will challenge Blue Haus for the league’s overall crown.

Semis Game
Blue Haus 70—De Dios 18, Esdrelon 14, Fernando 10, Manalo 6, Talania 6, Moises 5, Velasco 5, Ernie Moises 5, Guiab 4,

Cholos 64—Rangamar 12, Capalad 12, Norita 10, Lizama 8, Hernandez 6, Ritual 6, Zalgatar 4, Tabora 4, Laguindam 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-13, 36-25, 53-48, 70-64.

Quarterfinal Game
Cholos 90— Tabora 24, Rangamar 21, Ritual 13, Laguindam 12, Lizama 8, Capalad 5, Norita 4, Hernandez 4.

MJD 85—Pelisamen 25, Lizama 22, Peredo 20, Bautista 7, Gapor 6, Deocares 5.

Scoring by quarters: 20-22, 35-38, 67-55, 90-85.