AICC Manila and San Juan City posted contrasting semifinal victories to arrange a championship affair in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym Friday night.
The Manila dribblers crushed the Pasig-Sta. Lucia Realors, 88-68, while the San Juan Knights squeaked past the Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife, 85-84.
Michael Mabulac spearheaded with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists for AICC Manila, who avenged its 78-74 eliminations defeat to Pasig last Nov. 13.
Chris Bitoon also shone for the Manila dribblers with 13 points, while Hesed Gabo chipped in 11 points and dished off seven assists.
AICC Manila, who advanced to the semis after routing MTrans Batangas City, 75-65, last Tuesday, waxed hot with a 24-15 opening-quarter lead and slowly built its lead to 17, 49-32, at halftime.
Pasig tried to cut its double-digit deficit in the last two quarters, but only came close to limiting it to 11 in the last 2:57 of the third period, 64-53, off a Justin Arana layup.
Jeckster Apinan topscored for Pasig with 14 points and 11 rebounds but his efforts went futile.
In the other pairing, San Juan survived Davao Occidental’s late surge to inch closer to the crown.
The Tigers threatened in the last 5:59 of the game with seven straight points from Billy Ray Robles, Robby Celiz and Joseph Terso to erase the Knights’ 71-64 lead to tie it at 71-all.
A jumper from John Wilson gave Davao Occidental a 78-76 lead with 2:48 to go, but San Juan grabbed the 81-78 upperhand from a Paul Hernandez triple and an Orlan Wamar jumper to protect the lead for good.
Davao’s last attempt came in the last 19 seconds with a Keith Agovida floater, but they ran out of time.
Omar erupted for 26 points including four treys, while Paolo Hernandez and Adrian Nocum added 14 and 12 points.
