Shocker Nation gets outright semis berth

Shocker Nation secured the second automatic semis seat in the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League, following a 90-84 victory over Olivos Team in the final day of the regular season last Thursday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Shocker Nation finished the round-robin elimination with a 6-2 record, tying Island Manpower for second place in the team standings, but the former won the tiebreak due to the winner-over-the-other rule. Island Manpower was caught in a deadlock for the No. 2 spot when it lost to San Antonio, 90-94, in the final game last Thursday. San Antonio had earlier notched the first outright semis ticket and went on to sweep the elimination round with its 4-point win over Island Manpower.

With the loss, Island Manpower would have to prevail in its playoff game against defending champion Docomo Pacific last night to advance to the semis. Also set for last night was the playoff match between the Pelicans and TBK Mechanics. Winners of last night’s games will join Shocker Nation and San Antonio in the semis round, which will be played tomorrow.

Shocker Nation earned the semis-spot clinching win after a fourth-quarter push against Olivos Team. Down at 57-65 after three periods, Shocker Nation exploded for 33 points in the fourth canto to eliminate Olivos Team (1-8).

John Paul Villanueva and Lester Vertudez teamed up in the fourth-period turnaround, combining for 17 points, while three other Shocker Nation players scored at least two baskets apiece to steal the twin from Olivos Team.

Meanwhile, in the second and last regular season game, San Antonio kept its unbeaten record after leading the match from start to finish with its consistent offense. The league’s pennant champion drained at least 20 markers in all four quarters, registering its biggest output in the third (32 points) to turn a single digit advantage, 43-55, to a 12-point lead, entering the final canto.

Island Manpower, which hit no more than 17 points in each of the first two quarters, tried mounting a comeback in the fourth frame, but fell short, as Emerson Feria and Prince Factor hit timely baskets for San Antonio.

First Game
Shocker Nation 90 – Vertudez 19, De Leon 16, Saturno 12, Dela Cruz 12, Cadiang 12, Villanueva 9.
Olivos Team 84 – Talania 37, Moises 13, Barrios 12, Capalad 6, Tenorio 6, Camacho 2.
Scoring by quarters: 20-19, 45-39, 57-65, 90-84.

Second Game
San Antonio 94 – Arciaga 23, Espinosa 18, Feliciano 14, Factor 13, Feria 10, Dela Rosa 9, De Guzman 7.
Island Manpower 90 – Teregeyo 20, Bisana 19, Pangelinan 12, Kaipat 9, Norita 8, Tabora 4, Lizama 3.
Scoring by quarters: 22-18, 42-35, 74-62, 94-90.