Isaiah, Caleb march into semis

Isaiah and Caleb eased their way into the semifinals of the 4th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League after dominating their respective playoff foes last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Caleb’s Michael Cabanas drives against Joshua’s Darwin Gonzales during the second half of their playoff game in the 4th Genesis Cup last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Isaiah clinched the third semis berth after downing Jeremiah in the curtain-raiser, 75-57, while Caleb earned a similar easy victory over Joshua, 90-73, in the second game to punch the last Final Four ticket. With their identical wins, Isaiah and Caleb forced a semis showdown this Friday at 6:30pm with the winner advancing to the finals against the victor of the other semis pairing featuring the defending champion Daniel and Gideon. The second Final Four tiff is set for 8pm, while the finals match will be played this Sunday at 5:30pm after the consolation game scheduled for 3:30pm.

Isaiah, which lost to Daniel in the 3rd Genesis Cup championship game a few years ago, moved one win away from a return trip to the finals as it eliminated Jeremiah. The third-ranked Isaiah played better in the second half to cruise to victory.

Ahead by only 9 at halftime, 39-29, Isaiah banked on Marlon Ibanez, Fred Fatialofa, and Walter Brillo in the second half en route to its 18-point winning margin. The trio combined for 25 of Isaiah’s 37 points in the last 20 minutes of play with the lefty Ibanez drilling 12, a big improvement from his 5-point output in the first half. Fatialofa was consistent all throughout the game, contributing 6 in the second half after making 7 in the first, while Brillo also picked up where he left off, chipping in 7 in the final frame to add with his 8 in the opening half.

Oliver Gragasin was the fourth Isaiah player to hit double figures, tallying 10, while his three other teammates combined for 8 in the second-half domination.

While Isaiah had less problems scoring, it was a different story for Jeremiah, which failed to get its offensive game going after committing several turnovers. Only Jay Nunag and Ramsa Tenepere finished in double figures for Jeremiah with 19 and 18, respectively. The three other scorers on the team in the second half combined for only three field goals and 9 points.

In the second game, Caleb also poured in points in the second half to oust Joshua.

Caleb led by as much as 31 points early in the final half, 75-44, before it let its guard down a bit past the halfway mark of the second frame, allowing Joshua to score garbage points.

Michael Cabanas paced Caleb with his 25 points, while Nathan Borromeo and Joseph Gatdula chipped in 20 and 14, respectively. The three Caleb players worked together in the first half, teaming up for 32 points to hand their squad a 47-31 halftime advantage.

Cabanas, who had 9 in the first frame to back up the 13 and 10 of Borromeo and Gatdula, anchored Caleb’s offense in the second half, firing 16 to finish off Joshua.

First Game
Isaiah 75 – Ibanez 17, Brillo 15, Fatialofa 13, Gragasin 10, De Leon 6, Puno 4, Arroyo 4, Cortez 4, Dalusung 2.

Jeremiah 57 – Nunag 19, Tenepere 18, Rabago 8, Lansangan 6, Lizardo 4, Casuncad 2.

Scoring by halves: 38-29, 75-57.

Second Game
Caleb 90 – Cabanas 25, Borromeo 20, Gatdula 14, Bacani 8, Ocanada 8, Morales 7, Castro 4, Huddleston 2, Gozon 2.

Joshua 73 – Abe 20, Isip 18, Eugenio 13, Esquito 8, Gonzales 8, Sayas 6.

Scoring by halves: 47-31, 90-73.