MAFEA/RNV eliminates SAFSWO

 MAFEA/RNV ousted SAFSWO and claimed the last semis seat in the UFO Inter-Organization Masters Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 after an emphatic 90-59 victory in their playoff game on Thursday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

A 30-10 scoring run in the third quarter was all MAFEA/RNV needed to knock off SAFSWO and join Cabalen/Wings Travel, VisMinda/PIAHI, and MDX/Armatech in the semifinals. MAFEA will face Cabalen in the semis next week, while VisMinda and Armatech will collide in the other Final Four pairing with winners in the two playoff matches advancing to the finals.

After leading by only a deuce at the break, 34-32, MAFEA pulled away in the third canto behind the trio of Dado Vistal, Ed Manalili, and Elmer Pineda. Vistal started the third period with back-to-back triples for his fourth straight trey, as he also ended the second frame with two shots from downtown. Manalili also had a string of points, nailing seven midway in the third, while Pineda scored eight of MAFEA’s last 10 points in that quarter.

With MAFEA on target in the third, it took a commanding 64-42 lead, entering the final canto. SAFSWO was held to 10 points, as it had only Dionie Malicden making more than two field goals in the third period. Rey Darag, Noel Conti, and Ed Echavez logged two points apiece.

MAFEA widened the gap further in the fourth quarter and midway in the payoff period, the RNV-supported squad had already pulled out its starters as the game was already in the bag.

Vistal paced MAFEA with 25 points, while his four other teammates also finished in double figures. Danny Bicera chipped in 15 points, Ferdie de la Torre added 14, Pineda contributed 12, and Manalili nailed 11.

Only Rey Darag and Mike Surima scored in double digits for SAFSWO with 18 and 10 markers, respectively. SAFSWO bowed out of the competition without a win.

Before collapsing in the second half, SAFSWO managed to lead in the opening quarter, 14-10, behind the five points apiece of Darag and Surima. MAFEA got off to a slow start despite drawing two early triples from Vistal.

MAFEA picked up its scoring in the second period with Vistal connecting on two more triples and Bicera firing 10 points to grab the driver’s seat.

MAFEA/RNV 90 – Vistal 25, Bicera 15, de la Torre 14, Pineda 12, Manalili 11, Sevilla 8, Canoy 5.

SAFSWO 59 – Darag 18, Surima 10, Malicden 8, Conti 6, Echavez 6, Ebuen 5, Jacob 4, Bucalig 3.

Scoring by quarters: 10-14, 34-32, 64-42, 90-59.