BUS Group 50's in the final 40's derailed by Negros BG

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

COMPLACENCY is an enemy and turns underdogs into vicious canines.

Three of four teams with twice-to-beat advantage learned this on Sunday in the semi final round of Sharp Basketball Cup at Regent Pearl Subdivision gym in Barangay Alijis.

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Except for Basketball Unified Sports Group (No. 1) which whipped Hinigaran Fifties (No. 4), 90-82, the rest of the overconfident favorites were forced a Game 2 by their more determined foes.

Former PBA veteran Vernie Villarias and Sarian Ordas went home with bowed heads as No. 3 La Carlota buried No. 2 Bays Club, 80-77. Not even the desperate 3-pointer of Adrian Melocoton which hit its mark in the dying seconds could save Bays in the 40-Up division.

Not to be outdone, Jimmy Barredo's Real Med Pharmacy (No. 3) drugged Negros Professionals Athletic Club (No. 2) to sleep, 81-70 with relentless fastbreaks and excellent outside shooting in the other 50-Up match.

Number 4 Negros Basketball Group completed the reversal and exacted revenge against No. 1 BUS Group with a shocking 80-56 victory in the main game.

Joel Marquez did not only call the shots but scored on unmolested fastbreak points. Center Adelino Aureno and Nene Vera controlled the boards while Jack Palermo hit from all angles in the perimeter.

NeproAC struggled but failed to recover as former UNO-R Ram Nene Vera arrived in the second half and added more height and heft in the paint.

Nelson Sedillo shot from the arc with ease, slashing enforcer Rolen Balquin found the driving lane open and Matthew Arguelles got his points underneath but could not reverse the outcome.

BUSG 40's started slow and paid dearly as former Huskies Felipe Sandoval and Randy Cawaling got open looks from the triple area. Daniel Chiu belied the paunch and teamed up with USLS buddy Felipe Luciano in controlling the game's tempo.

Bandoy Aliermo, Rommel Hofilena, Edgar Basco tried to bail out BUSG but only Bernie Chan found the mark with intermittent support from Rey de Guzman.

Huskies 50-Uppers struggled in the first canto but got things on a roll as guard Ireneo Morales started hitting his jumpers, Toto Plagata hit from the arc supported by Melvin Baclay.

Center Teloy Marcelino and Titin Tabaque provided the power inside and repulsed the much-improved Hinigaranons who were reported to have trained hard including roadruns at local beaches in preparation for this stage.

League commissioner Nene Lapore will come out with the weekend schedule before Friday in this tournament promised with funds but abandoned by the Cong. Golez-Senator Koko Pimentel tandem.

Sharp saved the league through Bing Soyao, adviser of the BUS Group.