Monday, September 01, 2008 WNU, Ticel triumph in NBA Gov's Cup semis
PRETOURNAMENT favorite Ticel-Iloilo and crowd favorite West Negros University Mustangs posted wins over their respective opponents as the single-round Final Four semi-finals of the 1st NBA Gov. Isidro Zayco Invitational Cup '08 reeled off Saturday.
The encounter forced organizers to find ways to accommodate more fans inside the extremely overflowing Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
the Mustangs used their speed and vaunted outside shooting to prevail over the Cadiz City Whale, 91-81, in Saturday's first game getting the usual points from reigning NBA Mayor's Cup MVP Ely Olarte who tallied a game-high 25 points, while point guards Alfie Villariza and Jeff Jacinto chipped in with 18 apiece even as slotman Vergilio Dapar added 12 and Vengie Vergara 11 for the win.
Former University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Ram Rolan Delina and import Neil Rañeses finished with identical 19 points each for Cadiz, while Marvin Mercado, Rene Divinagracia and Jojo Miravalles added nine each and Jessie Lumantas eight points for the loss.
Meanwhile, powerhouse Ticel-Iloilo repeated over Pamplona Bulls, 99-82, getting a game-high 31 points from former Negros Slasher Reynel Hugnatan, 19 from ex-PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes, 16 from Roel Balgos while Edu Allado, Tonyboy Espinosa, Mark Yee and Tito Lopez combined for another 25 points.
Pamplona Bulls was led by Mark Andaya with 21, while Tommy Andren chipped in with 16 even as the returning Mark Marcos and Jose Magdadaro added 10 apiece, and point guard Al Vergara, John Repique and Richard Verayo put in another combined 22 points in their losing effort.
WNU was playing Pamplona Bulls as of press deadline Sunday while Ticel was to clash against Cadiz in the second scheduled game.
On Tuesday, September 2, Cadiz Wales take on Pamplona Bulls at 6 p.m. followed by Ticel against the WNU Mustangs in the continuation of the Top Four single-round semis.
The best-of-three championship round is scheduled on Thursday, September 4, with the number 3 and number 4 teams after the single-round semis to clash for 3rd and 4th places, while at 7:45 p.m. is the number 1 and number 2 fight for the championship in this eight-team NBA centerpiece event.
Tickets in this round are priced at P30 (reserve) and P15 (bleacher). (HCV)
