T Galleria, BSI advance to quarterfinals

GPPC, left, and T Galleria players fight for the ball during the first quarter of their playoff game in the IT&E inter-government/business caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

T Galleria and Best Sunshine International dispatched their respective playoff foes to move into the quarterfinal round of the 2016 IT&E Inter-Government/Business Basketball League last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

T Galleria eliminated GPPC, 82-73, to clinch the fifth Round of 8 slot, while BSI booked the sixth quarterfinals ticket following a 101-94 triumph over Commonwealth Ports Authority.

Brendon Talania top-scored for T Galleria with his 17 points despite missing the first quarter of the playoff match. Bart Demapan, Mark Espina, and Marlon De Dios teamed up in Talania’s absence in the opening canto to give T Galleria an early double-digit spread, 28-15.

Talania reported to the game in the second canto and this time partnered with Espina in stretching their lead to 17 at halftime, 51-34. T Galleria was never threatened in the second half to advance to the next round where they will face Pool A second finisher IT&E for the semis berth on the west side of the playoff draw. IT&E marched into the Round of 8 following a 71-57 win against the Feds last week.

Meanwhile, in the second game, Andrew Bautista towed BSI to the 7-point win over CPA after sizzling for 34 points. Dexter Guiang also scored in twin digits for BSI with his 12 markers.

BSIh led from start to finish, holding its ground against the repeated comeback bids of CPA, which remained in contention behind the explosive game of Donovan Brennan. The CPA gunner led all scorers with his 35 markers, but was held to 4 points in the final canto.

With the victory, BSI set up a quarterfinal showdown against DFEMS, which came from a 70-64 triumph over BECQ last week.

Only two quarterfinals berths were left and they were contested last night with Department of Public Safety battling CHCC and Northern Marianas Sports Association dueling Customs. Results of these matches were unavailable at press time. Other early quarterfinalists were Pool A top finisher MJD and Pool B first placer Pacific Islands Club.

First Game
T Galleria 82—Talania 17, Espina 16, De Dios 12, Hiroichi 10, Esdrelon 9, Devero 8, Demapan 8, Guiab 2.
GPPC 73 — Ocampo 20, Mungcal 10, Laguindam 9, Elchico 6, Tagle 8, Jalandoni 4, Lagung 4.
Scoring by quarters: 28-15, 51-34, 74-49, 82-73.

Second Game
BSI 101 — Bautista 34, Ibag 12, Guiang 12, Demapan 11, Atencio 8, Anonueva 6, A. Fernandez 5, Tudela 4, J. Fernandez 3, Escano 2, Cabrera 2.
CPA 94 — Brennan 35, Camacho 21, Robert 12, Reyes 10, Yangilmao 6, Pangelinan 6, Ulloa 5.
Scoring by quarters: 27-19, 52-48, 78-73, 101-94.