The top seeded team led by Christian De Vero and Matt Duenas nearly had it, locking six points apiece to lead, 23-18 in the first quarter.
The AFP-Jets however, stayed alive and inched their way to an 89-85 win during the 2011 United Filipino Organization Basketball League-Docomo Pacific Cup at the Tan Siu Lin Sports Complex.
Duenas threatened the Jets from the finals with successive baskets in the second quarter. He posted 17 of his 29 points in the first half while De Vero added 10.
Jets’ Sahj Hossain however, retrieved the ball for a field goal and launched a three-pointer after a rebound from Ezra Caro. Melvin Cadiang hammered both his free throws to hand the Jets a 46-42 lead. Caro joined Rainer Deleon Guerrero and Sambile Juanito for back-to-back field goals to outscore Armatech, 19-17 in the third quarter.
Team MDX, drawing a bye from the quarterfinals, needed only one game to face the Filcag-Rollers. The Jets survived a much longer course, losing first to SIP-Aon-Flor before eliminating the Laguna-S.U. Lions.
Armatech’s Pedro Castro mustered nine points and Duenas earned eight in a final attempt to ground the Jets.
Hossain and Cadiang each blasted three-point field goals and came back on jumpers for a combined 10 points. With less than two minutes left on the clock, Eugene Manglona tossed in three free throws to secure the Jets a finals seat.
Hossaain piled 21 points overall while Cadiang had 27 with seven assists and four rebounds.
Center Ian Benavente garnered 12 rebounds to fend off Armatech in the defense.
The youth division championship is scheduled for Saturday, October 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Scores:
AFP-Jets 89 – M. Cadiang 27, S. Hossain 21, E. Caro 12, E. Manglona 10, J. Webb 6, R. Deleon Guerrero 5, K. Deleon 3, I. Benavente 3, S. Juanito 2
MDX-Armatech 85 – M. Duenas 29, C. De Vero 20, P. Castro 11, L. Rollon 7, L. Vertudez 6, S. Metran 4, J. Ano 3, N. Feria 3, H. Maranan 2
Quarterscores: 23-18, 42-46, 59-65, 85-89
