SJ Ol’Aces duel KFC for U18 title

The San Jose Ol’Aces’ Kobee Mendoza goes up for a shot against the Rollers B’s Angelo Factor, right, and Jude Tengco during their earlier playoff game in the U18 division of the BANMI youth caging. The Ol’Aces defeated the Rollers B’s sister team Rollers A in the semifinals last Tuesday, 47-41. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

KFC bagged the first finals seat after a 68-58 win over the Chalan Kanoa Saints in the opening semis tiff, while in the second game, the Ol’Aces edged the Rollers A, 47-41.

The Ol’Aces secured the second finals ticket after holding the Rollers A to 5 points in the third period. Before the third-quarter meltdown, the Rollers A enjoyed a 21-16 halftime lead over the Ol’Aces. Mike Arciaga scored 14 first-half points to put the Rollers A on top, while Prince Factor added 6.

In the third period, Arciaga was scoreless and the entire Rollers A crew was held to one field goal off Irvin Malonzo’s triple and two free throws from Factor.

The Ol’Aces, on the other hand, drew baskets from four players with three of them making at least two field goals. Dustin Sablan had 5 straight points, while Karlo De Leon and Ignacio Borja added 4 apiece. Kobee Mendoza was the other Ol’Aces player to hit the board in the third period, drilling the team’s last field goal in that quarter.

The Ol’Aces went on to protect their advantage behind De Leon’s successive baskets early in the fourth, while Mendoza and Borja provided the insurance shots. De Leon knocked in 7 straight baskets, while Mendoza hit a pair of charities, and Borja scored 3 of the Ol’Aces last 6 points.

The Rollers A failed to bounce back from the third-quarter collapse, as Arciaga could not get his rhythm back, making only one field goal and three free throws in the final canto. The Rollers A continued to struggle on offense in the second half, as only Emerson Feria made more than one field goal for the team in the payoff canto.

In the first semis match, KFC led from start to finish, withstanding every Saints’ comeback bid to march into the finals.

Jethro Cruz paced KFC with his 16 points, while Shane Deleon Guerrero and Dixon Kwon also finished in twin digits with 14 and 10, respectively.

The U18 finale between KFC and SJ Ol’Aces will be played this Saturday at 11:30am, while the Rollers A and Saints duel for the third place trophy at 10am.

First Game
KFC 68–Cruz 16, Deleon Guerrero 14, Kwon 10, Darag 9, Javier 7, Francisco 5, Alipio 2.

CK Saints 58–Espinosa 26, Lansang 14, Fidelino 8, Nakashima 68, Pialur 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-10, 27-19, 48-43, 68-58.

Second Game
SJ Ol’Aces 47–De Leon 13, Borja 12, Epity 7, Mendoza 5, D. Sablan 4, Cruz 2.

Rollers A 41– Arciaga 17, Factor 13, Feria 8, Malonzo 3.

Scoring by quarters: 8-7, 16-21, 31-26, 47-41.