Doble: Condura, Syntax dispute Sharp-BUSG title

Unbeaten powerhouse Condura is heavily favored when it meets Syntax for the title in the Sharp-Basketball Unified Sports Group invitational on Sunday at West Negros University covered court here in Bacolod City.

Game time is set at 3:30 p.m. following the 2:00 p.m. encounter between Homesite Basketball Organization and Panasonic for third place.

Condura dealt Panasonic a 92-85 beating while Syntax nipped Homesite, 84-82 in the crossover semifinal three Sundays ago.

The Ref Makers duplicated its 114-107 first round triumph over Panasonic while Syntax mimicked its 75-72 victory over HBO in the opening day.

Bert Celis was 12 for 12 from the free throw line and topscored with 24 points. Felipe Tumamot added 20 and Bernie Chan has 17 on medium jump shots, aside from hauling rebounds at both ends for the Ref Makers.

The luckless Panasonic got 25 points from Hermi Derwill, 15 from Tanker Habaradas and 12 from Rey de Guzman. Koko Fuentebella, Macky Macayan and Biboy Java combined for 22 points to keep the game close. Condura, however, took the last 3 quarters after trailing 19-20 in the first quarter.

Syntax squandered its 51-41 advantage at the half and barely survived the biggest scare from HBO which got the lead 63-62 on Amit Teruel's triple. It was a seesaw battle till the end with Rex Bayer splitting his penalties for the final count.

HBO's James delos Reyes nearly extended the game, missing a layup after getting a fastbreak pitch with 1.09 seconds left after Bayer, who has 20 points, made his second free throw.

Arnel Tornilla penetrated with 18 points, Dagol Flores scattered 17 and Raymundo Sapa sank 14 markers, 12 of which were from the arc. Teruel waxed hot with 23 points, 15 coming from beyond the rainbow area, while Reynaldo Celodino scattered 22, delos Reyes sniped 17 and Francis Occida delivered 11 for HBO’s losing cause.

On Sunday, the winner gets a championship trophy and cash prize of P4,000 while the first runner-up will settle for a trophy and P2,000.

Tournament commissioner Bing Soyao said that it is anybody's game, notwithstanding the 77-70 triumph of Condura over Syntax in their first encounter.