SLR, Euro-Med seize semis seats

STA. LUCIA Realty leaned on a balanced offensive led by Jhaps Bautista to overcome Byaheng SCTEX, 80-73, and clinch a semifinal seat in the PCBL Chairman’s Cup at Marikina Sports Center.

Bautista finished with 21 points to lead four other teammates with at least eight points as the Realtors took the best of three quarterfinal series, 2-1.

Euro-Med also secured a semifinal seat with a 68-52 drubbing of Foton in their do-or-die battle.

Former Mapua standout Mike Parala came up with his best game of the tournament, finishing with 15 points and six boards as Euro-Med sustained its impressive campaign.

After losing its first four games, Euro-Med has now won seven of its last nine games to enter the Final Four, joining top seed Mighty Sports and No. 2 Jumbo Plastic.

The Realtors’ local crew put together a solid performance that included putting the clamps on SCTEX gunner Byron Villarias to complete a come-from-behind win in the series.

Arellano standout Kent Salado contributed 13, while Paolo Javelona, Jett Vidal and Wowie Escosio wound up with eight points each for the sixth-seeded Realtors.

“The players stepped up. They were determined to win,” said Sta. Lucia coach Ogie Gumatay.

SCTEX’s loss put to waste another monster effort from Raul Soyud who tallied 28 points and 16 rebounds. But the former UP center got little support as Villarias and import Steve Akomo were held to a combined 11 points.

The Realtors scored 10 straight points to lead, 49-41, in the third period. Cedelf P. Tupas

The scores:
First Game
STA LUCIA 80—Bautista 21, Salado 13, Bangga 12, Escosio 8, Vidal 8, Javelona 8, Camasura 5, Ilagan 4, Sanjo 1, Castanarez 0, Jamito 0.
BIYAHENG SCTEX 73—Soyud 28, Pangilinan 11, Sumalinog 9, Calomot 8, Akomo 6, Villarias 5, Batino 4, Vitug 2, del Rosario 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 37-37, 54-50, 80-73
Second Game
EURO-MED 68—Parala 15, Almario 10, Custodio 10, Salamat 6, Alvarez 6, Tajonera 6, Adeogun 4, Capacio 4, Galanza 3, Gil 2, Poligrates 2, Saitanan 0.
FOTON 52—Hernandez 13, Reyes 11, Nacpil 9, Gomez 5, Enriquez 4, Moraga 3, Ablaza 3, Mallari 2, Rivera 2, Penaflor 0, Ouattara 0.
Quarters: 20-15, 33-28, 45-35, 68-52