Mariana Resort vs Blue Haus in finals

Blue Haus’ Ed Pangelinan drives against Armatech’s Joseph Gatdula, left, and Haejun Park during the third quarter of their semis game in the Emon Lodge-Docomo Pacific Cup last Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mariana Resort booked the first finals ticket after outclassing PIC Chefs in the curtain-raiser, 88-76, while Blue Haus notched the second and last finals seat after pounding Armatech in the nightcap, 92-67. The winner-take-all finale will be played on Monday.

The first semis game between Mariana Resort and PIC Chefs was a close battle in the first three quarters before the former gained control in the fourth en route to the 12-point win. Ahead by only 1 after the third period, 61-60, Joseph Galulu and Jorge De Guzman gave Mariana Resort more breathing room in the fourth frame, combining for 16 points, the same output the entire PIC Chefs crew registered.

PIC Chefs failed to counter- attack in the fourth after keeping Mariana Resort at bay in the first three periods, as Jun Tabora was held to two field goals. Before slowing down in the fourth, Tabora had scored 32 big points after three frames. He dropped 13 in the third period to move PIC Chefs within 1.

The rest of PIC Chefs players failed to step up to make up for Tabora’s so-so performance in the payoff canto, while Galulu and De Guzman got enough support from their teammates with three more Mariana Resort players contributing at least three markers each.

Galulu top-scored for Mariana Resort with his 23 points, while De Guzman added 19. Jun Alipio and Ed Cosino also finished in double figures with 17 and 10, respectively. Tabora finished with 38 points for PIC Chefs, while Rodney Catalla was the second highest scorer on the team with his 13.

In the second semis tiff, the unbeaten Blue Haus never gave Armatech a chance for an upset, pushing all the right buttons from the first period to the last.

Right at the end of the first canto, Blue Haus was way ahead, 28-9. Edsel Mendoza outgunned the entire Armatech team, 13-9. Armatech was limited to three field goals and only Martin Moreno scored more than 2 points for the team in the opening canto and two of them were off free throws.

Armatech managed to pick up its scoring in the second frame, firing 24, but Blue Haus still went ahead, countering with 25 points, 10 of them came from Junar Guiab. Guiab and the rest of the Blue Haus big men capitalized on their ceiling advantage to get easy shots in the paint against the much smaller frontliners of Armatech. Armatech had only the burly Haejun Park trying to stand his ground against Blue Haus’ big men.

Blue Haus’ efficient inside game was complimented by the good shooting of its guards—Edgar Pangelinan and Tony Diaz—and the elimination round top finisher went on to pad its 20-point halftime lead, 53-33, to 29, 78-49, entering the fourth quarter. The deficit was too big for Armatech to overhaul in the fourth quarter and the team made no significant effort to mount a monumental comeback as it just traded baskets with Blue Haus.

Guiab top-scored for Blue Haus with his 20 points, while Mendoza chipped in 17. Pangelinan contributed 16, while Diaz and Ernie Moises recorded 12 and 10, respectively. Armatech’s guard combo Bernardo Montano, James Abuy, and Martino Moreno all hit double figures and combined for 32 points, but failed to drain baskets in streaks.

First Game
Mariana Resort 88 – Galulu 23, De Guzman 19, Alipio 17, Cosino 10, Pineda 8, Garcia 6, Abuan 2, Montes 2.

PIC Chefs 76 – J. Tabora 38, Catalla 13, Milantes 6, Guzman 6, Francis 4, Linaogo 2, Hernandez 2, Ballesteros 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-18, 36-34, 61-60, 88-76.

Second Game
Blue Haus 92 – Guiab 20, Mendoza 17, Pangelinan 16, Diaz 12, Moises 10, F. Palacios 6, Santos 6, Fernandez 4.

Armatech 67 – Montano 12, Moreno 10, Abuy 10, Poquiz 9, Gatdula 6, Park 6, Tobias 4, Bartolo 4, Pablo 2, Malasarte 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-9, 53-33, 77-48, 92-67.