Manaoag, Urdaneta enter finals
3RD GOVERNOR’S CUP
LINGAYEN– The Manaoag and Urdaneta City cagers accomplished their missions and their places in the finals of the of the 3rd Governor’s Cup Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament.
Second season’s first runner-up, Team Manaoag, frustrated their nemesis, Team Lingayen in their first-ever match in the semifinal round of the cagefest tourney in the province with an 8-point advantage, 101-93, to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three semifinal series.
Urdaneta City fended off determined Sto. Tomas twice in a row to book their ticket to the finals of the basketball tourney. The back-to-back victory of Team Urdaneta is the first finals appearance of Team Urdaneta.
The well-executed play of Manaoag persisted in the fourth canto, thanks to Mark Christian Meneses’ solid defense via blocking and assists to erect a 9-point lead against Lingayen, 91-80. The defending champ did not wilt under pressure despite huge deficit.
With two minutes left in the game clock, Lingayen lost control of the electrifying offense of Manaoag as the players were on fire took down Lingayen.
Displaying agility on court, Urdaneta City led by its star players Rolly Bravo, Arcy Corpuz and Christian Danielle Abo subdued Sto. Tomas in their first match with a 5-point lead, 92-87.
The game became feverish as soon as the fourth quarter started. The game play of Sto. Tomas led by Asuncion was spectacular but that cannot stop Urdaneta City to rule the game.
With last two minutes, Sto. Tomas only had to score three points to mark a deadlock, 80-83, yet, the ferocity of Urdaneta City fueled them to win the game.
In their second match, Urdaneta City took control of the match, with their minds and hearts set on the golden spot in the finals. Urdaneta City successfully eliminated Sto. Tomas with a gripping 93-91 score.
The second match between Lingayen and Manaoag is scheduled on April 6. /Shiella Mae C. De Guzman
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