SJI Falcons enter semis in SBP National Juniors Championship Under 16

Friday, January 27, 2012

ST. JOHN’S Institute Falcons fell Thursday to La Union College of Nursing, Arts & Sciences (LUCNAS), 84-78 but entered the semifinals of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas National Juniors Championship Under 16 played at the CCDC Gym, Baguio City.

University of Visayas, Lucnas and SJI are tied at 4-1 at the end of elimination. UV secured the top seed after beating St. Clare of Caloocan College, SJI is at second spot while LUCNAS was eliminated.

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In the Final 4 matchup this afternoon, SJI will face the undefeated top seed in the other bracket which is the Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori from Cagayan De Oro which beat University of Sto. Tomas in the elimination round.

UV will face UST in the other semis game.

The winners will arrange a winner-take-all showdown on January 28.

Lucnas held a slim 17-16 in the first quarter and extended the lead to 43-31 at halftime with Kirell Brahndon Montalbo scoring 12 points, Thirdy Montinola with 9 and Leland Francis Dusaban with 6.

Carlo Sian and Montalbo combined for 15 points in the third quarter but LUCNAS kept its lead at 65-53.

SJI launched a rally behind Montalbo’s 14 points and Jai Arroyo’s 6 points to cut the lead to 78-76 with 2 minutes left. However, Arroyo and Montalbo fouled out with 55 seconds left in the game. The absence of the two firebrand scorers proved to be the difference which enabled LUCNAS to escape with the victory.

Montalbo finished with 33 points, Montinola added 13, Sian picked up 11, Dusaban made 11, Arroyo shot 8 and Alec Rojas added 4 points. (Stephen Tan)