Cavs stave off Eagles for semis berth

PHILIPPINE Military Academy leaned on the one–two punch of Kevin Yriarte and Richard Quion to stifle Baguio Central University and enter the semi final phase of the Baguio – Benguet Educational Athletic League men’s basketball.

Yriarte and Quion combined for 49 points in defeating the Eagles, 92-86, in their step ladder quarterfinals match at the UB gym Wednesday evening.

Quion orchestrated an 18-8 run in the third period feeding Yriarte with six points in that run to finish the period with a 65-55 advantage after a 47 deadlock at the 4:14 mark of the quarter.

From that strong finish in the third canto, the Cavaliers looked poised to eliminate the third seeded Eagles in the pay off canto where at one point in time led by as high as 13, 75-62, with 7:06 remaining in the ball game.

“I told them to make their shot if they have the opportunity and if they can’t score, they’ll just have to get back on defense immediately,” said Cavaliers coach Jojo Estebar.

And the Cavaliers gladly responded on the offense with coach Estebar’s words with the two second class cadets scoring 29 from Yriarte while Quion added 20 as Richard Fernandez chipped in 19 markers.

The Cavaliers were in fact never threatened the rest of the payoff canto thwarting every attack by the Eagles down the stretch but BCU came within striking distance at 83-76 with 2:45 left.

Brent Esteban waxed hot for the Eagles in the opening canto with four straight points capped by a Gendrick Kiaki triple for a 0-7 count with 7:10 remaining in the first quarter but the Cavaliers stormed back with a 12 – 4 run to put them on top at 12-11 with 4:11 left.

Esteban then finished with a game high of 37 points while Kiaki added 13 for the third seeded Eagles who defeated the Cavaliers in their first assignment, 81-61, during the elimination round.

“Our game plan was to stop Esteban but it didn’t materialize that’s why we just countered on our offense,” added Estebar.

The Cavaliers is actually riding high on their 85-75 triumph over Saint Louis University Navigators in the first round of the quarterfinal step ladder knock game with Yriarte providing again the scoring for the Fort Del Pilar based dribblers with 31 points.
It will be the farthest the Cavaliers have gone in the tournament after it got booted out by SLU in last year’s quarterfinals and now have the chance to get past the semis if they edge second seeded and twice to beat advantage holder University of Baguio Cardinals today at the UB gym.