01/06/2019
GENERAL TRIAS BRAVES CRUISES TO AN EASY WIN VERSUS MARIKINA SAPATEROS; SETS DIVISION FINALS AGAINST BAGONG PARAÑAQUE
By Ronald D. Cayetano
The General Trias Braves made sure there won’t be any more major uprising on the part of its elimination round foe.
In a game which it dominated from start to finish, the unbeaten Braves overwhelmed the Sapateros to the score of 96-69 and set up a Southern Division finals match against the Bagong Parañaque in the inaugural CBA Pilipinas Founders Cup. The loss eliminated the Sapateros from the playoff picture and ended its campaign in the tournament.
So dominating were the Braves that it led as high as 33 points. The Sapateros tried to make a comeback early in the 3rd quarter but was quickly subdued by a 9-0 run by the Braves. The latter built its huge lead on a near perfect offensive game anchored on successive fastbreaks, inside conversions and consistent outside shots.
The Sapateros were once again led by Jr Ng Sang but was limited to 13 points and 4 rebounds this time thanks to the Braves’ tough defense. The Braves meanwhile had of all of its players contributing with 5 chipping in double figures. They were led by hometown players Haddi Porto, Joe-cel Prudente, Jonathan Rivera and Jhong Bondoc who conspired in that telling 2nd quarter run that made the game beyond reach.
With its victory, the Braves hope to repeat its elimination round victory against a tough Bagong Parañaque side who defeated the Manila Sausage Kings earlier, 96-87 and advance to the CBA Founders Cup finals.
The Northern Division will have its knockout playoffs tomorrow with the Bulacan Heroes taking on the Caloocan Saints in the first game and the San Juan Knights Exile facing the Valenzuela Zival Express in the first and 2nd games respectively at the Aquinas Gym in the City of San Juan.
The tournament format will have the top two protagonists of each division squaring off with the winners facing each other off in the Finals.
The scores:
General Trias Braves 96 – Porto 16, Escobal 12, Bondoc 12, Rivera 12, Prudente 11, Delos Santos 9, Laureno 5, Melencio 5, Tajonera 4, Alcaraz 3, Guillen 3 Dejito 2, Evangelista 2
Marikina Sapateros 69 – Ng Sang 13, De Guzman 11, Tan 10, Peñaflorida 7, Santos 6, Amansec 6, Testado 6, Tarucan 5, Ramos 3, Limin 2, Girado 0, Diamante 0, Campos 0
Quarters: 23-15; 55-33; 81-50; 96-69.