PCYAA semis on

A THIRD overtime game between Uno High School and Makati Gospel Church-New Life Christian Academy  in the Juniors Division of the 2nd Philippine Ching Yuen Athletic Association (PCYAA) basketball tournament was not in the cards.

The defending champion Uneans survived a second-quarter meltdown behind the endgame heroics of Kenric Aldrich Kok and Kyle Christian Tan to squeeze past MGC-NLCA, 59-50, last Tuesday during their quarterfinal rubber match at the Uno High School Gym in Tondo, Manila to nail down the fourth and final ticket to the semifinal playoffs.

With the victory by Uno HS, the Final Four cast has been determined. The semifinals today (February 12) will feature unblemished and top-seeded Saint Jude Catholic School (8-0) against fourth-seeded Uno HS at 5:30 p.m. and No. 2 seed Jubilee Christian Academy against No. 3 seed Philippine Cultural College at 7 p.m.

Thanks to a higher ranking, the Judenites and Jubilee will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage over their respective opponents.
During the elimination phase, Saint Jude whitewashed Uno, 95-58, behind Renzel Yongco’s tournament-high 37 points and Jubilee downed PCC, 57-50, behind Paolo Lim’s 18 markers.

Should any of the lower-seeded teams emerge victorious today (Feb.12), a rubber match would be played on Valentine’s Day, February 14 (5:30 p.m.). In Tuesday’s game, Uno got off to a strong start behind Tan’s nine points, taking a 20-7 lead with two minutes remaining in the first quarter on a Kok triple.

However, Uno’s offensive meltdown slowly cut into its lead. It was shut out in the entire quarter. Though it was held scoreless, Uno’s defense held fort as MGC-NLC made just nine points in the period and Uno was still up by four points, 20-16, at halftime.

The Uneans were without a point for 13 minutes and 11 seconds before Kyle Tan scored on a drive with 8:49 left in the third canto and then made a pair of free throws to increase their advantage to eight, 24-16.

Pint-sized Kim Tanlo’s trifecta gave Uno a 29-20 lead but MGC-NLCA’s Carl Ong knocked in five consecutive points – including a triple – to put his team within two, 31-29.  The third canto ended with Uno ahead, 37-32.

Kok went 2-for-2 from the foul line as Uno held on to enjoy a 37-32 advantage at the end of the third quarter built around Kyle Tan’s 10 scores. MGC-NLCA came roaring back to equalize at 42-all – the game’s only deadlock.

Tanlo connected on his second of two triples in the final half as Uno grabbed the upperhand once more, 45-42. However, Uno went into penalty with still 7:03 remaining and a fielder by Daniel Lim and two freebies by Ong gave MGC-NLCA its first lead of the game, 46-45.

Kok went 2-for-2 from the charity stripes as Uno regained the driver’s seat, 47-46. MGC-NLCA produced its second and final lead, 48-47, when Ong made a basket but bungled on a potential three-point play with an errant free throw.

Then it was the dynamic duo of Kyle Tan and Kok to the rescue. The two conspired for Uno’s final 12 points in the last five minutes and 20 seconds.

Following a three-point play and a floater by Kok, Uno finished off its pesky foes when Kok assisted Kyle Tan on a dagger triple from 30 feet with 1:49 remaining for a 55-48 edge.

Kyle Tan finished with 22 points (including a pair of triples), 11 rebounds, six steals and five blocks in an all-around performance for Uno. Kok chalked up 21 points, including 14 in the final quarter, and had five boards and three steals.

Tanlo contributed two treys and 14 points and bull-strong center Jesse Chong grabbed 14 reebies for the winning team.
MGC-NLCA was bannered by Lim’s 15 points and nine rebounds and Ong’s 14 points and nine rebounds. Sean Tan, Aaron Uy and Cedric Go contributed five points apiece for the gritty but beaten squad.