UEP, UL clash for title
2nd Jimmy Fernandez Cup 2011
THE University of Luzon (UL) Junior Golden Tigers scored a come-from-behind hard-earned victory against the AIE-College Eagles, 95-88, on Wednesday, landing them the second slot for the championship in the ongoing 2nd Jimmy Fernandez Cup 2011.
The Perez Boulevard-based young cagers of Dagupan City’s dad Chito Samson, appeared to be on the verge of defeat after 30 minutes of play, put up a stifling defence and released bombs from outside in the fourth, frustrating the Eagles’ surge and finally casting them out for the finals.
“Our game today was a must-win to enter the finals and my boys knew it. We could not afford to lose because in case of defeat we’d have a deadlock with PAMMA and that would create a huge problem… Our victory today was an assurance to do battle for the championship,” said UL coach Byron Vidal.
UL’s Mark Maure scored a team high 16 points, mostly done in the first three quarters. Rifleman Niccon Cresencio finished with 14 and Aljick Aquino had 11, nine of them made in the last quarter. The Tigers finished with a 7-3 win-loss card, the second best in the league.
On the losing side, prolific guard Amadito Perez tallied a game high 33 points while the league’s leading scorer Jeffrey Yanes contributed 25.
UEP-PIMSAT GAME
In the second game Wednesday, the league’s leading team, the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP) Patriots, displayed their killing prowess anew after absorbing two consecutive debacles by thumping the PIMSAT Seafarers, 101-72.
The Patriots, with an 8-2 win-loss card, topped the elimination round and notched the first berth for the finals.
“After my 20 years of experience coaching an amateur basketball team, this will be the first time that a father and son will clash in the finals,” said coach Renato Vidal, referring to his son Byron who’s steering the Tigers.
“But we have the edge because my team is more skilled having copped the first runner-up plum twice in the eastern Pangasinan league,” he added with confidence.
The league’s project director, Seato Gonimil, said the play dates for the best-of-three the finals scheduled next week has yet to be finalized depending on the availability of the DWAD gym.
PAMMA collides with PIMSAT for third place via a knockout game.–JAGJr.
