The defense of the big men of Malacañang Patriots like Poch Juinio, and Samuel Ignacio restricted the inside-point production of the AFP Cavaliers. (RUSSELL JULIO / Photoville International)
In what could have been a preview of Season 4 Finals, Malacañang dominated AFP 85-75 to give the Cavaliers their first loss of the tournament in the UNTV Cup Season 4 second round eliminations at Ynares Sports Arena.
UNTV Cup, the Public Service Channel’s basketball league where cash prizes are donated to charities is led by multi-awarded broadcaster and Mr. Public Service Daniel Razon.
With 5:05 mark in the final quarter, the Patriots were able to register their biggest lead of the game 75-55; insurmountable for AFP to overcome.
Forwards Jenkins Mesina and Andro Requez were named best players of the game, both scoring in stretches when AFP was about to take over the game.
But it was not only the two, as it was a total team effort starting from head coach Bong Ramos up to the bench players for the Patriots to beat the number one team convincingly.
Visnu Das Javier back to back triples in the opening quarter set the tone for the Patriots which controlled the first quarter, 25-22.
Bong Ramos boys have more rebounds, steals and blocks. Requez also scored six points in the second period as Malacañang closed out the first half, 43-34.
Big men Samuel Ignacio and Corporal Jeffrey Quiambao canceled out each other in the third period as the Patriots kept their lead, 64-55 going into the final 10 minutes.
Back to back baskets of Mesina increased the gap to 18 at 73-55. With 5:34 left, Patriots never let victory slip out of their hands.
AFP used full court defense to surprise Malacañang but the Patriots perimeter shooting, interior defense, rebounding domination and team play were the keys for a breakthrough win.
Mesina registered 15 points, five rebounds, four out of seven from the field and perfect seven out of seven free-throws.
Requez tallied 12 markers, five out of eight from the field, five boards, two assists, four steals and a block.
Ignacio contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds while Javier chipped in 15 markers, three out of four triples, four boards, two steals and a block as Malacañang improved to four wins and two losses and will next face MMDA (4-2) on December 4.
Consistent Cavaliers big man Technical Sergeant Rolando Pascual was scoreless in the game as Private Boyet Bautista carried the fight for AFP with 22 markers.
AFP still leads the team standings with 5-1 mark although they are now tied on top with BFP.
Alfredo Cayco’s troop will try to bounce back on December 13 versus Senate.
The game was not that close but by the way the game was played and the possibilities, it can be an AFP-Malacañang championship affair in the making.
Six other teams would not agree…
The CUP scores
Malacañang 85– Ignacio 16, Mesina 15, V.Javier 15, Requez 12, Juinio 8, Yamamoto 5, Jimenez 5, Verches 4, Gadong 3, Sevilla 2
AFP 75- Bautista 22, Quiambao 15, Sergio 14, Casulla 8, Tan 7, Zuñiga 5, Jabar 2, Fernandez 2
(MARK SUBA)
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