DPWH five slip into semis

 

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

THE unheralded Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) cage squad lost its first two games in the quarterfinals of the First Pangasinan Inter-Agency Basketball Tournament. The first one was against the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 86-71, and the second was versus frontrunner Philippine National Police (PNP) A, 20-0 on technicality. Some pundits whom I had talked to said that the DPWH Builders’ huge 15-point loss against the lowly-rated BFP Firemen showed they didn’t have what it takes to win in the league and entering the semis would be like climbing an unchartered high mountain.

Well, the DPWH boys took the challenge seriously and surprised everyone when they won all their last four games, trouncing first Judiciary, 81-76, on October 7, overwhelmed Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative (CENPELCO), 105-77, on October 14, routed Department of Education-Pangasinan 1 (DepEd-Pang.-1), 82-57, on October 20 and repulsed semifinalist Pangasinan 1 Electric Cooperative (PANELCO), 81-74, on October 21. Their four straight victories (with two defeats) now put them on third place overall in the team standing after PNP-A and PNP-B. And whatever the outcome of their last game slated on October 27 against second-running PNP-B is already moot and academic and will remain in third place with PANELCO occupying the fourth and last slot for the semifinals on October 28 at the NRSCC in Lingayen. The DPWH five is being supported by first, second, third and fourth districts’ engineering offices headed by Marieta Mendoza, Rodolfo Boy Dion, Emmanuel Diaz and Simplicio Gonzales, respectively.

Big kudos to you guys. Keep up the good plays and wish you the best of luck in your succeeding games.

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By the time you read this piece, the seventh and last match of this year’s PBA Governors’ Cup championship battle between Meralco Bolts and the defending champions Ginebra Gin Kings is already over. We saw on TV last Wednesday night how the underdog Bolts managed a victorious sixth game, 98-91, to force a knockout match on October 27. The raging Bolts took the front from the start to lead the half by 17 big points, 54-37, and never relinquished it until the final buzzer.

The Gin Kings tried their best to overpower the Bolts in the third quarter especially in the fourth and reduced the gap to six points seven times and their best at 86-90, 3:19 minutes left but it was not enough to slowdown the Bolts. The determined boys of veteran head coach Norman Black played professionally, not intimidated by the pro-Ginebra crowd to survive the Gin Kings final onslaught.

“Ginebra was slipshod in the first two periods and that caused their loss,” said Anton de Vera of Mangaldan, a diehard Ginebra fan who lost 200 bucks. “Despite Ginebra’s loss, I’ll still bet on them in their final game,” he added.

I may add, the Gin Kings were not able to contain the Bolts import Justin Durham rifling a huge 28 points with a whopping 19 boards. Reynel Hugnatan also played a major role in the Bolts victory pumping in a championship career high 24 points with six treys out of twelve.

So expect the adjustments in Ginebra’s play in the seventh game. Black knows that.
My mind says Ginebra will win, but my heart says a victory for Meralco. Let’s wait and see.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said to the Jews, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” JOHN 8: 7

 

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