Friday, May 30, 2008 Villamonte book Monico Cup semis berths By Henry C. Villalva
SANTIAGO Rapiz Jr. converted two crucial free throws with seven seconds remaining to lift upstart Barangay 35 over previously unbeaten Barangay Pahanocoy, 68-67 in the 5th Monico Cup Under-19 Inter-Barangay summer basketball tournament's last quarterfinals match.
The match was slated at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (NomPac).
Playing every inch like his power-playing former West Negros College Mustang father, Rapiz defended, converted treys and displayed the all-around intensity and hunger that characterized coach Monet Borja's boys' strategy in dealing with a more organized but visibly-pressured Pahanocoy squad.
Slotman Bubol Capote led Barangay 35 with 14 points while Wilben Malalitan chipped in 11 and Rapiz 10 even as finesse player Nicolas Baylon, Romel Felizario and Jason Makilan paced coach Arnel Lacson's charges with 18, 16 and 11 points, respectively.
In Thursday's other game, Barangay Villamonte edged Barangay Singcang-Airport in overtime, 88-86, to likewise book a semis slot in the this 29-team grassroots sports outreach project of lone district of Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella's congressional district office.
Coach Botchoy Solinap's boys got 23 points from Mark dela Cruz who got scoring support from Pril Gacho with 17 and Cesar Tan with 14.
Barangay Singcang-Airport, mentored by Raul Tillaman, was led by the game-high 27 points of Jay-R Poblacion and 24 from Jimy Campos.
It will therefore be Barangay Cabug against Barangay Taculing and Barangay Villamonte versus Barangay 35 in the semi-finals scheduled 6PM on Saturday at the West Negros University Gym with the losers competing for third place and the winners clashing for the title on Sunday, June 1, 6PM, also at the WNU Gym.
Meanwhile, Monico Cup tournament committee chairman Monico 'Nicky' Puentevella Jr. has called a meeting of representatives from the semi-finalists together with tournament officials at 4PM today at the Bacolod solon's congressional district office to discuss matters pertinent to the semis and finals of the event.
