San Antonio vs Docomo in finals

San Antonio and Docomo played heads-up basketball in the fourth quarter to eliminate their semis foes and set up their title duel in the 2nd DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League.

Docomo came back from a 7-point deficit in the third and cruised to a 77-63 victory in its semis game against I Love Saipan, while San Antonio pulled off to a 68-61 triumph versus Island Floral in the second Final Four pairing last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

San Antonio capitalized on an erratic Island Floral to win the battle of the Top 2 teams in Pool B and hand the latter its lone loss in the season. Island Floral had a six-game regular season sweep, including 66-58 win over San Antonio, and advanced to the semis after ousting Chinatown, but fell short in its finals bid after committing costly turnovers in the fourth quarter.

There was no official count on Island Floral’s miscues in the fourth, but it had at least 10, including four in the last two minutes of the match. Despite its booboos, Island Floral managed to threaten San Antonio, cutting the lead to 1, 59-60, after Ferdie Tobias made a crosscourt pass to Syl Teregeyo, who converted a shot from the right baseline, 35.7 seconds left on the clock.

Now ahead by only a point, San Antonio was pressed to hit a basket and did what the doctor ordered with J.P. Villanueva and Ezra Caro teaming up in the crucial play. Villanueva drove to the basket and drew the defense of Island Floral’s Alex Standish before dishing the ball out to Ezra Caro, who was just one step away from drilling the important basket that gave San Antonio more cushion, 62-59, 18.3 second to go in the game.

With the clock going down, Island Floral tried to retaliate quickly, but Standish’s long throw from the baseline to their front court was too strong, as Jun Tabora only had a hand on it and eventually lost control. Earlier in the last two minutes, Standish also made an errant pass to Syl Teregeyo, who also committed an error when the leather hit his foot while going for a drive and trying to bring Island Floral closer to San Antonio.

With Standish and Tabora’s miscue, Island Floral was forced to foul Nevin Salem, who split his charities, but returned to the stripe anew when Cecilio Bisana fumbled after recovering the ball off the rebound play. Salem then went 2-for-2 from the foul line to ice it for San Antonio, 64-59, going into the last 11 seconds of the match.

Jack Aranda top-scored for San Antonio with his 21 points, leading his team’s recovery early in the fourth quarter. The final canto saw Island Floral launching a 6-0 run to turn a 46-49 third quarter deficit to a 52-49 lead. Bryle Alegre then ended drought with his undergoal stab, while Aranda hit 4-for-4 from the line and Salem added one free throw to help San Antonio regain the driver’s seat. San Antonio remained in control, as Island Floral was held to one field goal in the next four minutes of play, making more turnovers than baskets. Island Floral was so disorganized in the majority of the fourth, as quarterback Ferdie Tobias was on the bench for several minutes due to foul trouble.

Meanwhile, almost everything worked well for Docomo in the fourth period against I Love Saipan. Four players canned multiple baskets for Docomo’s balance offense, while I Love Saipan bled for points in the pivotal fourth. I Love Saipan, who came off two big wins in the playoffs, this time fell short against Docomo after scoring only 7 points and three field goals in the fourth canto.

Docomo’s James Villacrusis doubled-up I Love Saipan, as he nailed 14 of his 18 markers in the fourth frame, while Jimmy Tudela also showed up in the deciding quarter, adding 8 points. Juan Camacho and Rolly Paraiso combined for 11 points in the fourth.

Before its fourth-quarter juggernaut, Docomo was behind, 49-56. I Love Saipan slowly lost the lead in the fourth after drawing only one field goal each from three different players. Mike Olaitiman, who had already scored 18 after the third canto, drilled only a triple in the fourth, while Bryan Lontoc and Brian Mendoza hit the two other baskets for I Love Saipan. Gyles Ruluked was scoreless and gassed out in the fourth, contributing only 8, his lowest in the playoffs. The I Love Saipan forward had 21 points each in their 75-68 upset against Fong’s Bakery in the quarterfinals and 79-75 win over CJ Signs in the first round of the playoffs.

With I Love Saipan losing in the semis, it dropped to the consolation game against Island Floral. The battle for third place is set for tomorrow at 6pm, followed by the winner-take-all finale between Docomo and San Antonio.

First Game
Docomo 77 – Camacho 20, Villacrusis 18, Paraiso 12, Tudela 12, Sison 9, Montes 2, Gomez 1.
I Love Saipan 63 – Olaitiman 22, Cristobal 11, Lontoc 10, Mendoza 8, Ruluked 8, Rabago 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-20, 36-34, 49-56, 77-63.

Second Game
San Antonio 68 – Aranda 21, Alegre 15, Caro 12, Cadiang 11, J. Villanueva 4, Salem 4.
Island Floral 61 – Teregeyo 12, Standish 12, Bisana 11, Tabora 11, Norita 7, Santos 6.
Scoring by quarters: 13-11, 30-29, 49-46, 68-61.