RIYADH, 1 February — Coach Lito Navarro and his assistant Ernesto Galvan, each punched the air and beamed with broad smiles when their Bizon-Dizer team outfought Dasnet with the final score of 84-77.
The jubilant veterans were elated with the unprecedented team play of their boys after posting a thrilling victory that kept alive the hopes of Bizon-Dizer to barge into the semifinal round. J. Reyes scored a career-high 30 points and led Bizon-Dizer against the strong offensive challenges of Dasnet.
The start was a seesaw battle with each team keeping the fight alive for a much-needed win. The effective coaching of Navarro and Galvan spelled the difference. Although M. Placino of Dasnet scored a big 23 points and with the assists of the tandem of Tabanzura and Almario, Bizon-Dizer never allowed Dasnet to take over the driver’s seat.
Even from the beginning of the second game, Cotabato was oozing with energy that the score jumped immediately to 20-5 after merely 3 minutes of play. Error-prone Al Tayyar was no-match to Cotabato. Their defenses crumbled and their shooting skills were far accurate.
Cotabato coach Nasser P. Malang and assistant coach Abdullah Ampuan took advantage of the situation. Pointing clearly the direction of the game, four out of the five players of Cotabato scored double digits led by J. Salac with 28 points. The final score was 114-43.
The third match was another streak of the Sultan team when it posted their 6th straight victory over the crowd’s and hometown favorite Euromarche (81-63).
Euromarche Superstore cagers were putting up a good play in the first half to stop the winning streak of the Sultan team. The scores at half-time were registered at 29-31 in their favor.
In the second half, however, Sultan immediately registered 6 goals for 12 points, through the triumvirate of Soriano, Bautista and Fajardo. The shooting spree stayed unanswered until Alcantara converted a running shot for two after three-and-a-half minutes of play.
Since then, Sultan controlled Euromarche with their fast breaks and running games. Coach Kamar Marcelo and assistant coach Patrick Gatbonton had again effectively mentored Sultan to another convincing victory.
The Warriors beat the defending champion Luzviminda L.S.S. team after a closely contested final match of the evening (74-70). There was a fierce exchange of points minute by minute but the Warriors were never threatened to the agile defenders of the title. Coaches Noel Galang and Laddie Dimaapi tutored their boys to play with precision using pressure-ladden defenses upon their opponent. Constantino led the Warriors with his career-high game of 29 points.
