Saturday, August 30, 2008 WNU vs Cadiz, Ticel vs Pamplona Bulls in Guv Cup By Henry C. Villalva
THE stage is set for the much-awaited Final Four single-round semifinals in the 1st Negros Basketball Association (NBA) Gov. Isidro Zayco Invitational Cup '08 at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Fancied Pamplona Bulls leaned on their 6'7" slotman Mark Andaya who topscored with 21 big points Thursday to ensure that they nail the last ticket to Saturday's semis round via a 94-88 thrashing of hard-fighting Province of Negros Occidental.
Andaya ably controlled the shaded lane and got much-needed offensive backup from Jose Magdadaro who chipped in with 15 even as local standouts Raymund Concha, Mark John Repique, and Tommy Andren added 12 apiece and Arnold Gono 11 points for the well deserved break.
The Capitol cagers got 19 points from former University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Ram Joemarie Bayhon, 18 from Marlon Talatala, 13 from Mark Ramos while Rex Bayer, Arnol Laureño, and Bert Celis chipped in with 11, 10 and nine points, respectively.
Pamplona Bulls played minus Mark Marcos, whose father passed away recently, and point guard Al Vergara.
Saturday's first game pits No. 2 West Negros University Mustangs against No. 3 Cadiz City Whales at 4 p.m. followed by the 6 o'clock clash between powerhouse top qualifier Ticel-Iloilo and Pamplona Bulls, two match-ups expected to again fill the Po Hang Gym to overflow capacity in this NBA centerpiece event.
On Sunday, the WNU Mustangs take on Pamplona Bulls in the first game at 4 p.m. while No. 1 Ticel-Iloilo takes on No. 3 Cadiz City at 6 p.m. with reinforcements from both sides, led by Alaska Aces forward Reynel Hugnatan and Cadiz Whales import Neil Rañeses, expected to see action.
"All four teams start on a clean slate in this single round semis with the results of the elimination round not carried over to this round," said NBA tournament commissioner Bobby Tee.
Meanwhile, both NBA president Oscar Bascon and treasurer Vic Tan urged basketball fans to come to the venue as early as possible to secure choice seats.
"It's better if they come early so they won't run out of seats especially those who want to watch the games at the reserve area," Tan told Sun.Star Friday.
The four other squads who failed to advance to the next round in this eight-team series are Silay City, La Carlota City, Hinigaran, and Province of Negros Occidental.
