Thursday, September 29, 2005
Valencia cagers in semis
* After a shocking rubber-match win over Cebu's Mantawi
OZAMIS CITY -- Big-time players play big in big games.
Veteran slotman Christian Nicdao played big in powering Ozamis Cotta back into the southern conference finals as they dismantled the Iligan Crusaders for the second straight day, 79-71, Tuesday in the series clincher of the semifinals of the 2005 Panasonic-NBC national championship at the jam-packed Governor Angel Medina Sr. Gym here.
Nicdao had 17 points on top of 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in an almost no-relief 37 minutes of play for the Cotta Shrine team of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog.
The ex-pro Nicdao scored seven in the third period including a triple that triggered a 15-7 run to cap off the third period with Ozamis comfortably ahead, 64-54.
Iligan won game one, 91-84, at their homecourt but Ozamis bounced back to tie the series, 88-74, a night earlier in the semifinal series of the tournament supported by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Accel, Molten, Sunbolt Sports Drinks, Spring Cooking Oil, Nature's Spring, Far Eastern Insurance, KSK Food Products (Boy Bawang), Hapee Toothpaste, Dewfoam, Skygo Motorcycles, Sirlitz Electronics, Prime Channel, Bayview Park Hotel and Holiday Plaza-Cebu.
Over at the Mandaue Sports Center, expansion team Valencia Golden Harvest shocked the third-seeded Hapee/Dewfoam-backed Mantawi Sparkling Nights, 80-79, to clinch their quarterfinal series, 2-1.
Mantawi's ace forward Ardy Larong was thrown out of the game when he punched Valencia's Jimmy Taligatos, 5:33 left in the game with the Sparkling Nights leading, 75-70.
Larong, who had 26 points in Mantawi's 100-85 victory in game two a night earlier, was limited to just 14 points by Taligatos' leech-like defense that irked him leading to the punching foul.
Valencia exploited the ouster of Larong as they embarked on a 10-1 run to score the stirring upset, 80-76, down to the final eight seconds of the game. Marvin Tundag hit a triple at the buzzer to peg the count.
"Our gameplan was to stop (Ardy) Larong. Our ploy worked and we're excited to be in the semifinals. Beating the defending champion will be a tall order but it can be done," Valencia coach Arvin Martinez said.
Valencia, which won game one 91-84, will take on Skygo/Sirlitz-backed Tribu Sugbu in the other semifinal pair after the All-Star break to determine who will face Ozamis in the southern conference finals.
The Crusaders enjoyed a 38-29 lead midway through the second period but Ozamis slowly worked their way on top behind their veterans to outsmart the youthful team of Mayor Lawrence Cruz.
Iligan was limited to just two free throws in the first five minutes of the payoff period as they did not score a field goal until the 4:34 mark on Ryan Dy's triple.
Four more other Ozamis players scored in double figures to back up Nicdao's MVP-like performance.
Dondon Mendoza led the Crusaders with 16 points, five boards and three assists while Dy added a season-high 14 markers, nine coming off the three-point territory.
NBC games are aired over NBN-4 4pm every Sunday and at Prime Channel 2pm and 8:30 pm daily.
The Scores
Ozamiz 79--Nicdao 17, Bansil 16, Alberto 11, Ilanga 10, Cabigkis 10, Alvarado 9, Sampilo 5, Liangco 2, Conmigo 0, Aquino 0, Basco 0, Delina 0, Libatog 0, Butel 0.
Iligan 71--Mendoza 16, Dy 14, Barbosa 11, De Guzman 8, Torio 5, Cavan 5, Fajardo 5, Faustino 3, Baguio 2, Can0y 0, Reyes 0, Sagad 0, Ayodelle 0, Oliveros 0.
Quarters: 16-23, 41-40, 64-54, 79-71.
Valencia 90--Cruz 17, Berami 16, Clavel 15, Adams 11, Nailon 11, Navales 7, Toring 6, Cesar 2, Taligatos 3, Cabili 0, Gragasin 0, Bagares 0, Madera 0.
Mantawi 89--Daa 19, Carretas 18, Larong 14, Tundag 13, More¤o 6, Huelar 4, Alminario 4, Gloria 3, Santos 3, France 1, Bajenting 0, Sere¤o 0.
Quarters: 18-21, 43-41, 65-69, 90-89.
(September 29, 2005 issue)
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