By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Avenging their first loss of the eliminations against the young and surging Asialink/E&C Trucking squad, the Uniwheels Cars Display showed they are the more veteran team by taking Game 1 of the JB Amateur Basketball League Elite I finals, 78-72.
The back-and-forth affair lasted for four quarters as both teams had an early grip on their respective styles of play.
With both teams unable to pull away from the other, it all went down to exposing mismatches and capitalizing on it.
Mark Ceniza dominated the paint for the Uniwheels squad, going up for power plays as soon as he gets good position in the shaded area.
Every time Ceniza and Bimbo Doliguez created runs for Uniwheels, Wilmer Dalumpines and Marvin Cuerbo were ready to answer for the Asialink squad.
But the heavily stacked Uniwheels lineup all produced in the all-important win, with Chris Loyola Jr. draining clutch treys and sinking timely baskets.
Ceniza was awarded as the best player of the game with 16 huge points, 6 rebounds, and 2 rejections.
Meanwhile, in the Elite II division, the ODM Sportswear squad nipped the JKG/CTG Commercial, 82-79, courtesy of a monster game from Istoy Lencioco, chalking up 22 points and 6 boards.
For the first semifinal game in the Elite II, the OJNA/IYB Mobile Bar Crocodiles leaned on their speed and quickness, turning down the Beachwalk Jollyfeet Malditos, 72-59.
Jesse Sullano was sorely missed as the Malditos fell into a 10 point deficit in the first half.
