Together with the hailed co-best player Corporal Eugene Tan, Technical Sergeant Rolando Pascual contributed significantly to the victory of AFP Cavaliers against the NHA Builders in their semifinals face-off. (Madz Milana / Photoville International)
PASIG CITY, Philippines — AFP Cavaliers, true to its form as the top seed going into the final 4, needed only a game to dispose NHA Builders, 88-78 Friday night at the Ynares Sports Arena to book the 1st UNTV Cup Season 4 finals seat and just waiting for an opponent named MMDA or PNP.
UNTV Cup, the public service channel’s basketball competition where cash prizes are donated to charities, is led by multi-awarded broadcaster and Mr. Public Service Daniel Razon.
Technical Sergeant Rolando Pascual emerged as the best player of the semifinals game with 23 points, nine out of 16 field goals, five out of five free throws, 10 rebounds and a steal to led the balanced attack of the Cavaliers which is returning to the championship round after winning the crown in the second season.
Corporal Eugene Tan dished out an all-around game of seven markers, seven boards, seven assists and three steals as AFP run away from NHA Builders right from the opening period and never looked back.
AFP took the 1st quarter, 28-14 with more triples connected, more boards, assists, lesser turnovers and eight men already scoring compared to only four by Builders. Corporal Jeffrey Quiambao and Sergeant Wilfredo Casulla Jr. combined for 14 markers and made the life difficult for NHA big man Marvin Mercado.
The soldiers kept the pace in the second period with Sergeant Winston Sergio’s perfect three out of three from the field and two out of two triples while Pascual turned his game on with six points, perfect three out of three from the field.
Mercado tried to lift the Benett Palad-coached squad in the third quarter with his 11 markers but was only matched by veterans Pascual and Tan. AFP still led at the end of the third period, 72-54.
Records assistant Antonio Lustestica registered three triples in the final period as NHA tried to make a comeback but the Alfredo Cayco coached team was experienced enough to grab the breakthrough game and reward themselves a 16-day break as game 1 of the best of three championship will only start on February 28.
AFP outrebounded NHA with 12 more boards, had 16 more assists and six less turnovers although they have more fouls which the Builders took advantage with 13 more converted free-throws.
So good was the Cavaliers game that they only used ace point guard Boyet Bautista on limited minutes and his two points, an assist and a steal stat line did not hurt AFP’s game.
According to coach Cayco, his soldiers prepared well for the semifinals game as NHA embarrassed the Cavaliers in their 1st meeting 96-76 a month ago in a 2nd round eliminations game.
Lustestica finished the game with game high 27 points but in a losing effort although NHA improved a lot this season considering the Builders was eliminated only in the 1st round elimination last year.
The second season champion is only waiting for the winner of MMDA-PNP semifinals series that was extended to a game two, as the Responders escaped past Blackwolves 77-72 to arrange a knockout game for the last finals seat.
The soldiers was also inspired in the game as league commissioner Atoy Co announced that teams will have a fair share on the prize money which still majority to be donated to their chosen charity.
Congratulations to the AFP Cavaliers and good luck to MMDA and PNP!
The CUP Scores
AFP 88- Pascual 23, Quiambao 15, Sergio 10, Casulla 9, Zuñiga 7, Tan 7, Araneta 5, Fernandez 4, Jabar 3, San Esteban 3, Bautista 2
NHA 78- Lustestica27, Mercado 16, W.Tibay 9, Taguiam 9, R.Tibay 8, Ladia 7, Clemente 2
Quarter Scores: 28-14, 48-32, 72-54, 88-78
(MARK SUBA)
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