By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After one month of elimination phase, the 2022 Iloilo City Inter-Office Basketball League organized by Stanley’s Sportswear is finally ready for its action-packed semifinal stage.
The two best teams in the tournament, the SWAT Subway and the ICPO Subway, automatically punched their semifinal ticket after a terrific 4-0 sweep in their respective elimination games.
Facing the tough task of tainting SWAT Subway’s perfect record is the no.2 ranked team in Bracket B, the ICPS1 PNP.
Meanwhile, RBA Construction, one of the most consistent and high-octane teams in the tournament carrying a 3-1 record, will clash with another undefeated team in ICPO Subway.
SWAT Subway ended their elimination with a convincing win over the Iloilo Mission Hospital team, 87-75.
It was a close game at the end of the first half but Delbert Toreno’s huge game helped SWAT pull away in the second half.
Toreno finished the game with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. On the other hand, Iloilo Mission Hospital was led by Kenneth Cordova with 12 points.
Aiming to also end the eliminations with a perfect 4-0 record, the ICPO Subway team was laser-focused against Imperial Appliance and handed them an 86-59 demolition exhibition.
It was only a two-point game after two quarters of action but ICPO Subway suddenly caught fire and kicked off a trey party courtesy of Chris Val Dalde who churned in 16 big points and collected three boards.
In the other games of the last elimination schedule, the ICPS1 PNP crushed LEADGEN BPO, 84-60, during the first game.
Mr. Jojo Castro is the tournament consultant while the living legend Mr. Abwe Estenor is the league commissioner.
