By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

JOSHUA and Jeremiah easily cruised to the semifinals of the 2nd Calvary International Mission-Filipino Community Church Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Invitational Cup, while Caleb took the hard way to the Final Four round last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Joshua, which finished the regular season in second place with an 8-1 record, clobbered No. 7 Isaiah, 95-63.
A balanced offense made life easy for Joshua as it had six players scoring in double figures with Jeff Garcia leading the way with 18 points.
Bing Marasigan chipped in 16, Gil Gapor added 15 and Kelvin Fitial, Mike Umali and Michael Achas had 12 apiece.
Gapor and Fitial started things out for Joshua as they combined for 19 points in the opening period and gave their team a 28-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Isaiah never recovered from thereon as Achas, Marasigan, Umali and Garcia joined the scoring spree in the remaining three quarters.
Badong Camacho led Isaiah’s losing cause with 15 markers.
In the second game, No. 3 Jeremiah had three players firing 21 and more points to notch a 28-point win over No. 4 Nehemiah, 101-73.
Errol Peredo nailed 26 points, Jun Estolas added 25 and Kevin Cequena chipped in 21.
Peredo exploded for 11 first-quarter points giving Jeremiah an early big lead, 31-18.
Estolas was consistent with his game scoring at least six points in each quarter, while Cequena had his best game in the third period hitting 11 markers.
With the trio taking over Jeremiah’s offense, there was little chance for Nehemiah to pull off an upset.
In the third game, Caleb had to foil Elijah’s fourth-quarter rally to eke out a 93-90 victory.
Caleb controlled the game in the first three quarters, but almost blew the game in the final canto when Andy Mortos, Ruther Demegillo and Bart Demapan brought Elijah back into the game.
Timely baskets from JR Barrios and good free throw shooting from Ronald Delos Reyes in the fourth period helped Caleb secure the victory.
The three winners of last Sunday’s playoffs will join pennant champion Daniel in the semifinals. Daniel got an automatic semis ticket after topping the regular season.
The semis will be played this Saturday starting at 6 p.m. at the Ada Gym.
The first semis match will have Joshua facing Jeremiah, while Daniel and Caleb will square off in the second game.
The winners of the two semis matches will battle for the 2nd Genesis Cup title on March 3, also in the Ada Gym.
Scores:
First Game
Joshua 95—Garcia 18, Gapor 15, Umali 12, Fitial 12, Achas 12, L. Palero 5, R. Palero 3, Latuza 2.
Isaiah 63—Dayrit 15, Capalad 10, Mabini 8, Dela Luya 6, Santos 6, Sacdalan 5, Vargas 5, Pineda 4, Cruz 2, Conti 2.
Quarterscores: 28-11, 48-24, 75-43, 95-63
Second Game
Jeremiah 101—Peredo 26, Estolas 25, Cequena 21, Aranda 10, Gamboa 6, Ajoste 4, Lim 4, Roman 3, Reyes 2.
Nehemiah 73—Olayres 19, Camacho 17, Artates 9, Dayrit 9, Capalad 8, Canlas 5, Surima 4, Lansangan 2.
Quarterscores: 31-18, 52-34, 75-59, 101-73
Third Game:
Caleb 93—Pelisamen 35, Delos Reyes 19, Barrios 15, Carino 14, Ilahi 5, Tobias 3, Buenabajo 2.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 54-43, 68-63, 93-90