Wednesday, September 03, 2008
BPI captures cage crown
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
ADD the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) to the growing list of champions in the annual Bankers Cup basketball tournament.
BPI carved its name in the history books of the local cage event featuring the different banks in Davao City Saturday when it dethroned Metrobank, 81-68, in a pulsating titular showdown for the 2008 crown at the Evergold Recreation Center in Barrio Obrero, Davao City.
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Dwight Bantan, playing out of One Network Bank, scored 28 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, to power the BPI dribblers to their first crown in the Bankers Cup. One Network Bank's PJ Samson added 21 for BPI and was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP) along with Banta.
"This year is really for us. Finally, we got it. We played with a lot of heart," said BPI's Joel Cervantes, who added six points aside from playing tough defense to help his team's cause.
Metrobank, which won the title last year, was hurt with the sudden collapse on offense especially from chief gunner Toto Solis.
Solis, who was averaging 18 points a game going into the championship game, went scoreless this time and it proved fatal to Metrobank.
Neil Te Eng Fo led Metrobank instead with 19 points, while Jeff Solidum added 18.
Banco de Oro, meanwhile, bagged third place after beating Plantersbank, 94-89, in an earlier game.
Nilo Temporal led BDO with 41 points.
IBank won the inaugural staging of the tournament back in 2003, while Banco Filipino emerged champion in 2004. Exportbank then grabbed the crown in 2005, followed by Planstersbank in 2006 before Metrobank won last year's edition.
The scores:
First Game
BDO 94 - Temporal 41, Cabug-os 16, Balaoro 10, Bebot 9, Barrera 8, Real 6, Dolleson 2, Abalos 2, Amores 0.
Plantersbank 89 - Leong 28, Buenaventura 16, Charcos 15, Sipalay 12, Movilla 8, Villanueva 7, Ventosa 2, Hao 1
Second Game
BPI 81 - Bantan 28, Samson 21, Guilaran 7, Cervantes 6, Noriega 6, Uy 4, Maningo 4, Rubi 3, Isla 2, Calvo 0, Velasquez 0, Angelo 0, Cruz 0.
Metrobank 68 - Te Eng Fo 19, Solidum 18, Paz 12, Gabila 8, Macatol 4, Pascual 3, Calubayan 2, Pena 2, Locsin 0, Lim 0, Morales 0, Solis 0, Du 0, Mejia 0.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (September 3, 2008 issue)
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