QUEZON City eliminated Manila-INGCO to reach the North Division Finals while Valenzuela-San Marino hung tough over Caloocan-Gerry’s Grill to stay alive in Metro League Reinforced (Second) Conference semifinal action at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
Led by the troika of Ibrahim Outtara, John Mahari and Mon Mabayo, the top-seeded and twice-to-beat Capitals took a 54-37 lead at the half to quickly take the fight out of the fourth-ranked Manila.
Outtara, a former UP Maroon, recorded a double-double of 21 points and 16 rebounds; Mahari came up with a 19-point, six-rebound and five-assist output while Mabayo added 16 points for QC, which topped the North Division elims.
John Melegrito added 11 points while Rod Vasallo and Roque Estoce Jr. chipped in 10 markers apiece for a well-balanced attack of the Capitals who arranged a Finals faceoff against the winner of Valenzuela-San Marino and Caloocan-Gerry’s Grill rubber match.
Only Andrian Celada came to fight for Manila with 29 points and 11 rebounds, his best game in the tournament.
In the second game, No. 3-ranked Valenzuela staved off elimination by fending off No. 2-seed Caloocan 74-68 behind the combined efforts of Erwin Sta. Maria and John Tayontong to drag their semis series into a sudden-death Game 2 this Tuesday at the Strike Gym in Bacoor.
The scores:
First Game
Quezon City 117 – Outtara 21, Mahari 19, Mabayo 16, Melegrito 11, Estoce Jr 10, Vasallo 10, Comia 7, Espanola 7, Macaballug 7, Delos Reyes 5, Asuncion 2, Udjan 2, Barraquias 0
Manila-INGCO 100 – Celada 29, Acosta 13, Laude 11, Camacho 10, Castro 9, Alban 8, Manalo 8, Mendoza 5, King 4, Balagtas 3
Quartescores: 26-25, 54-42, 82-64, 117-100
Second Game
Valenzuela - San Marino 74 – Tayontong 16, Sta. Maria 16, Raya 13, Natividad 7, Laminou 7, Esplana 7, Monteclaro 5, Diego 2, Dela Cruz 1, Pascua 0, Rivera 0, Kalaw 0
Caloocan - Gerry’s Grill 68 – Bauzon 17,Darang 14, De Mesa 11, Niang 9, De Leon 7, Sombero 6, Brutas 4, Ngo 0, Tay 0, Enriquez 0, Flores 0
Quarterscores: 11-14, 34-32, 57-48, 74-68
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