Team Marianas’ Greg Sablan goes up for the shot against the CK Saint’s Melvin Manibusan during a playoff game of the Michelob Ultra Cup Sunday at the Ada gym.
Team Marianas’ Lucio Aldan attempts the floater during a playoff game of the Michelob Ultra Cup Sunday at the Ada gym.
TEAM Marianas and Save More continue to make their way back up from the loser’s bracket in the playoffs of the Michelob Ultra Cup 2023 after eliminating their respective opponents Sunday at the Ada gym.
Team Marianas lived to fight another day as they came out victorious against the CK Saints in a win-or-go-home match, 72-69.
The CK Saints started off on the right foot as their ball movement and transitions were in sync in the opening quarter. Big man Melvin Manibusan opened the scoreboard with the first two buckets from inside the paint. Also scoring was Luizi Reyes. Lushawn Reyes and Leo Galarse then widened the offense with a triple each for a 16-10 CK Saints lead.
The second canto was Team Marianas’ time to shine. Although they were smaller, they made up for it with speed and constant pressure. Coby Santos and Greg Sablan delivered four points apiece. When they were not on the court, the rest of the team covered their tracks, taking the lead by halftime, 34-27.
Both teams fought well throughout the third period. The CK Saints’ Lushawn Reyes, Jeffery Yucummang, and Galarse continued to deliver but Jack Aranda and Lucio Aldan matched up to maintain a four-point Team Marianas advantage, 54-50.
In the final quarter, the CK Saints’ efforts paid off as Galarse exploded with eight straight points while John Tudela drained two consecutive triples to cut the deficit. But despite their late-game rally, they were forced to foul to stop the clock, allowing Team Marianas to shoot at a high percentage from the free throw line and secure the win, 72-69.
Save More vs Ali’i Blue Haus
Save More, for their part, scored an upset victory over Ali’i Blue Haus, 65-58.
With Blue Haus short a few players, they were forced to play catch up throughout the first half of the game.
In the first quarter, Save More established dominance thanks to the consistency of Romanio Vicente who led the assault with six points aided by Gelo Genese, Mi’i Tekiupua and John Mejarito, for a comfortable 13-4 advantage.
Although Elmer Esdrelon, Nate Mateo and Jonel Broncano managed to get Blue Haus out of the gutter, they still had a lot to work with as Save More built enough momentum to end the second canto in the lead, 34-24.
However, during the third period, Blue Haus suddenly found their second wind as Broncano heated up, sizzling 11 points while holding Save More to nine team points to cut down the deficit to just one point, 42-43.
Blue Haus, however, lost touch in the fourth and final quarter and allowed Save More to slip away with Mejarito capitalizing off the charity line en route to victory, 65-58.
