THREE open division teams have already secured spots in the final-four round of the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League after winning their “knockout” games Sunday at the Koblerville gym.
Blue Haus, the top team in the standings with an undefeated record, advanced to the semifinals after gunning down Padrinos Tuesday Club, 89-79.
Blue Haus’s Douglas Schmidt and Kelvin Fitial highlighted the opening quarter with back-to-back buckets. Fitial played the in-and-out game, firing a couple of triples while adding another bucket inside the paint for a total of eight points while Schmidt constantly attacked the rim using his speed to deliver 11 points and set up a double-digit control, 32-16.
The Padrinos finally got out of the gutter in the second canto as Joel Javier, John Wijangco and Mike Aparte stepped up, but they failed to stop Blue Haus’s Nate Mateo who joined the assault to push a 20-point lead, 55-34.
After the halftime break, the Padrinos returned as if they were a different team, playing aggressively on both ends of the court. Defensively, they closed out the driving lane and controlled the boards to deny a handful of second-chance attempts while they continued to deliver on offense with crucial buckets, nearly cutting the deficit back within 10 points.
Despite the Padrinos’ efforts, however, Blue Haus played to their advantage as they used the clock with Elmer Esdrelon at the helm while Fitial made his way inside the paint to score seven points and secure the win, 89-79.
In other games
Pacific Best Choice powered past Marianas Health Services, 70-54, but they still have to go through another knockout game on Sunday, this time against NAPA, for the fourth semifinal spot.
Chang Ming Market was given a free pass to the semifinals after JTM forfeited. NAPA also made it to the final-four after Vizion Insurance did not show for their game.
Blue Haus’ Elmer Esdrelon extends for the layup finish during a Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League game at the Koblerville gym.