Armatech boots out PIC

Armatech/MDX eliminated Pacific Islands Club in the 2013 UFO-Budweiser Masters Division Basketball League, following an 84-64 triumph in their second round outing last Tuesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Both teams played their last game in the regular season with Armatech completing the double-round robin contest with a 6-4 record and placing third in the team standings behind the unbeaten Blue Haus (9-0) and Laguna/Erika’s Catering (6-3). PIC ended up with a 2-8 card for last place in the six-team field. Only the Top 4 teams will advance to the playoffs and with PIC already out of the running, Shakir Realty (2-7) and D&Q Degree (3-6) are left to battle for the last semis berth.

Degree failed to seal a playoff seat after bowing to Laguna, 85-94, in the second game last Tuesday. An upset against Blue Haus tomorrow will ensure Degree’s entry to the next round. A loss coupled with Shakir Realty’s victory over Laguna will force a tie between the former and Degree for the fourth and last semis ticket. Organizers have yet to announce the tiebreak rules.
PIC missed a possible three-way tie for the last playoff berth after failing to get a solid game from Carlos Ballesteros, who nailed 13 triples in their 95-67 win over Degree last week. Ballesteros was held to 8 points and canned only two treys before fouling out midway in the fourth.

With Ballesteros a bit off, PIC leaned heavily on James Abuy, who scored a team-high 25 points. However, Abuy’s output was offset by the 26 markers of Bernard Montano and Armatech drew enough points from its other players to oust PIC. Elmer Pineda contributed 16 for Amatech, which got 12 and 10 markers from Martin Moreno and Sonny Ebuen, respectively.

In the second game, Laguna denied Degree an outright entry to the playoffs after having a 9-0 windup in the last 35 seconds of the match. Juna Tabora scored 6 straight points in that rally, which Rodney Catalla capped with a triple.

Degree went scoreless in the closing seconds of the game and committed costly turnovers, putting its playoff chances in danger. Degree absorbed its sixth straight loss after a strong 3-0 start. Degree’s woes continued despite leading Laguna in the first half, 43-39.
Laguna grabbed the driver’s seat after the third period, 65-62, behind the 12 points of Jun Alipio. Then in the fourth, it was a seesaw battle until Degree collapsed, while Tabora stepped up and hit clutch baskets.

Tabora top-scored for Laguna with his 38 points, while Alipio and Catalla added 25 and 15, respectively. Jorge De Guzman paced Degree with his 27 markers, while Alex Ocampo chipped in 21.

First Game
Armatech 84 – Montano 26, Pineda 16, Moreno 12, Ebuen 10, Berline 8, Malasarte 6, Poquiz 2, Park 2.
PIC 64 – Abuy 25, Ricafort 10, Ballesteros 8, Tolentino 6, Bartolo 6, Apasan 5, Fernandez 2.
Scoring by quarters: 11-12, 37-29, 56-46, 84-64.

Second Game
Laguna 94 – Tabora 38, Alipio 25, Catalla 15, Darag 6, Zapata 4, Catacutan 2.
D&Q Degree 85 – De Guzman 27, Ocampo 21, Tobias 14, Jinang 7, Drilon 6, Pablo 6, de la Torre 4.
Scoring by quarters: 16-18, 39-43, 65-62, 94-85.