By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After several months of intense elimination games, the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Elite Division Season II semifinals is now ready to take Iloilo City by storm.
From 10 competing teams, the Elite Division Season II is now down to the final four squads that will vie for the coveted championship trophy.
The last set of the quarterfinal schedule saw team Forever Smile Dental Clinic nip team Medics, 66-62, which helped them clinch the third semifinals spot while team TEJ Stoneford outlasted team Malditos, 82-75, for the last final four seat.
The veteran-filled Forever Smile had to battle against the young and high-octane Medics team that gave them a bunch of problems during their close showdown.
Team Medics had a narrow three-point lead heading into the final canto but key baskets from Happie Talimay helped Forever Smile gain the much-needed cushion and got away with the crucial win.
Aside from Talimay’s relentless drives to the basket, Peter Traviña’s clutch free throws helped their lead stay within four and avoided late timely three-pointers from Medics.
During the next game of the quarterfinal knockouts, team TEJ got the better of Malditos that capped off an intense double-header schedule.
Team Malditos were close to controlling the pace of the game after building their largest lead to as much as 12 in the second quarter but coach Rhodel Camacho and team TEJ’s timing as to when to deploy their signature full-court defensive pressure helped them get back into the ball game.
The tight and disciplined defense then spearheaded a massive second half turn around for team TEJ with the help of Franc Tono, Ralph Bajon, Jemar Cepriano, and Ryan Calamaan.
Tono delivered the clutch baskets in the last two minutes of the game while team Malditos failed to produce in the crucial stretch.
In the most-awaited semifinals, team Forever Smile will be facing team Systemic Farm Chemicals while team TEJ will be squaring off against the Elite Lab.
