Pool 2’s best DECA 8990 handily moved on to the semifinals of the 2016 Next5Hoops Metro Manila South Leg while no. 4 seed South Hills Royals pulled off the biggest upset by ousting Pool 1 top seed Warfit Basketball last Sunday.
3W Builders and Tsek Repablik also grabbed seats in the Final 4 after constrasting victories in the quarterfinals that pitted Pool 1’s top 4 teams against Pool 2’s in a crossover, knockout battle.
DECA 8990 remained undefeated in the tournament with a 96-82 triumph over Street Chef.
Chris Dalaten topped all scores with 31 points that went along with 15 rebounds to lead DECA 8990, which pulled away for good in the payoff period after trailing by as much as 10 early in the contest.
Mark Orias also added 29 points off the bench for DECA 8990, which led by as many as 19 down the stretch.
Street Chef, no. 4 in pool 1, put on a tough stand led by Ron Nineza who had a team-best 24 points, Dominic Reyes who had 19, and two others who finished with double-digit in scoring.
No. 4 South Hills Royals, meanwhile, stunned erstwhile undefeated WarFit Basketball, 69-64, thanks to a strong fourth quarter showing.
After breathing down WarFit’s neck for most of the second half, SH Royals took the lead for good with 6:17 to play and created a safe distance with a 9-1 run.
John Paul Redelick churned out 19 points, three rebounds and four assists for South Hills Royals, which also got 15 points from Dion Reverente and 10 points from Vicson Pajimola.
Only Jeb Carl Po and Reynald Cui barged into the double-digit scoring with 13 and 11 points, respectively, for WarFit Basketball which was outhustled by South Hills Royals all game.
Tsek Repablik turned back Grease Monkey, 86-80, to claim the other semifinals spot in shootout between June Crespo and Karlo Sumabat.
Sumabat finished with 26 points while Crespo had a point less but Tsek Repablik had the upper hand most of the game, opening a lead as wide as 16 midway the fourth quarter.
Edson Aricson and Danybelle Diocampo combined for 27 points to help Tsek Repablik in the win while Elo Cantos added 16 points in a losing effort for Grease Monkey.
3W Builders, meanwhile, cruised to the Final 4 round with a 101-69 clobbering of Chargers.
It was a total domination of 3W Builders, which led by close to 40 points to start the payoff period, with Exequiel Panares leading the way with 24 points, six rebounds and two dimes.
3W Builders faces SH Royals in the first semi-finals next Sunday while Tsek Repablik tries to dent DECA 8990’s record in the main event.
