By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Team Dois Seafood/Its RELX Iloilo, Vtrain Vape, and Selecta were the first three teams to qualify in the Iloilo City Basketball Club (ICBC) semifinals after earning huge wins in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs last June 8, 2023, held at the Monterosa Subdivision basketball gym, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Dois survived the tough challenge from the BacFire Industrial Supplies, 83-78, to set up a highly-anticipated semis showdown with team Vtrain on June 15, 2023.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair as BacFire was able to keep up with Dois’ offense courtesy of Peter Oñate’s 26 big points.
However, when the final crucial stretch began in the last set, it was Dois who put up more points including several fast break plays that helped maintain their lead.
Rush Rubin, one of Dois’ main gunners, then iced the game for his team after nailing a clutch shot from the charity stripe.
BacFire had the chance to trim Dois’ lead in the final 30 seconds of the game but none of their offensive players successfully converted a shot, rewarding the next possessions to Dois after pulling the defensive boards.
It was a collective effort from Dois as five of their players all scored in double figures led by Bautista’s 19, Flores’ 16, Rubin’s 15, and 11-apiece from Villaruz and Mana-ay.
Meanwhile, team Selecta just clinched a momentum-boosting win after dethroning the last conference champs Big Roys, to claim a seat in the ICBC Final Four.
For the other scheduled quarterfinal games, team CVV Wheels lived another day and forced a do-or-die game on the league’s no.1 team, QL Mortgage.
Jay Teñosa put up terrific numbers that steered CVV to an 88-83 victory and will have the chance to score an upset win if they sweep team QL.
Another thrilling game was witnessed as team Vtrain was able to escape 42big, 77-76, behind the heroics of Ron Cambas who erupted for 31 points.
Team Selecta will still wait for the winner between QL and team CVV to round off the conference’s Final Four teams that will vie for the ultimate chip.
Mr. Kris Noel Adricula, president of the ICBC, together with Mr. Oñate, John Paul Sarmiento, Julius Velez, and Aerol John Acurantes would like to thank B Lifestyle Complex, Selecta, and Medal Sportswear.
