Mighty Sports seals 3rd seed in Danny Espiritu Cup
Game Schedule:
Oct. 4 (Lyceum)
Sealions vs Naughty Needlez, 8:30pm
Oct. 6 (Reyes gym)
Mighty Sports vs EGS, 1pm
MANILA, Philippines -- Mighty Sports picked up two easy wins last week to seal the third seed entering the quarterfinals of the 2013 Danny Espiritu Cup basketball tournament.
The defending titlist strengthened its retention bid with an 104-86 rout of Naughty Needlez at Lyceum Gym last September 25, and an 88-79 victory over Expert Global Solutions at Reyes Gym last September 29.
Ken Acibar led with 15 points and three others had double-digit outputs for Mighty Sports, while actor Gerald Anderson singlehandedly carried Naughty Needlez in a losing effort with 39 markers.
It was Robby Celis, meanwhile, who spearheaded Mighty Sports' balance attack with 15 points against the persistent EGS side, which managed to bring down a 19-point lead early in the fourth down to just five with 2:40 to play.
Janus Lozada and Mac Sabellina then delivered the final blows for Mighty Sports, which is riding on a four-game winning streak for a 4-2 card at the end of the eliminations.
EGS, which ended up sixth with a 1-5 record, will have another shot at Mighty Sports as they face in the knockout quarterfinals match on October 6 at Reyes Gym.
Naughty Needlez likewise stayed in contention and will lock horns in the playoffs with skidding Sealions on October 4 at Lyceum Gym.
After an impressive start in the tournament dedicated to sports agent Danny Espiritu, Sealions reeled to a 3-3 card after a 86-97 defeat to MOB, also last September 25.
The win completed MOB's six-game sweep of the single-round eliminations, sustained through out the tournament by its youthful cogs led by guard Jeff Viernes.
Viernes unloaded a game-best 23 points including five triples against the veteran Sealions. Raymond Maconocido and Eric Suguitan had 17 markers apiece.
MOB, along with Skyforce (5-1), grabbed the two outright semifinals berths.
The scores:
September 25
Mighty Sports 104 - Acibar 15, Sabelina 12, Marquez 11, Lozada 11, Colina 9, Ferrer 9, Santos 7, Duremdes 7, Celiz 6, Franco 6, Dimaunahan 6, Gamboa 5.
Naughty Needlez 86 - Anderson 39, Martinez 13, Nunez 10, Cunanan 8, Andaya 8, Taupa 6, Tolentino 2.
Quarters: 25-28, 56-52, 79-67, 104-86.
September 27
MOB 97 - Viernes 23, Maconocido 17, Suguitan 17, Tajonera 9, Montilla 9, Custodio 8, Reyes 6, Melencio 6, Sarangay 0, Acosta 0, Corpuz 0.
Sealions 86 - Malabanan 22, Billones 15, Zagala 14, Garrido 9, Asoro 7, Alao 6, Junio 5, Martinez 3, Solis 3, Raymundo 2, Ricafuente 0, Villareal 0.
Quarters: 25-28, 45-48, 70-63, 97-86.
September 29
Mighty Sports 88 - Celis 15, Ferrer 12, Lozada 11, Sabelina 9, Evangelista 9, Marquez 7, Acibar 6, Manuel 6, Santos 5, Colina 4, Aquino 3, Wongchuking 1, Gamboa 0, Dimaunahan 0.
EGS 79 - Arias 17, Melano 10, Ranises 10, Caspe 9, Kalaw 9, De Vera 7, Feliciano 6, Catamora 4, Valena 3, Valera 2, Lanzar 2, Sigua 0.
Quarters: 23-18, 52-32, 69-55, 88-79
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