UPSETS GALORE: Top seeds booted out of 1st Mortabond Cup

Sports

UPSETS rocked the semifinal round of the Cebu Architects Basketball Club (CABC) 1st Mortabond Cup after the top two seeds were beaten by their respective lower-ranked opponents over the weekend at the Benedicto College Gym in Cebu City.

Lite took down Strakgrout, 78-73, while Brute shocked an erstwhile unbeaten Mortaseal, 77-73, marking for the first time in league history that the top two seeds were in the semifinal round.

Mortaseal and Strakgout ended the preliminary round as the top two teams that enabled them to automatically advance to the semifinal round. Mortaseal went 5-0 (win-loss) in the initial round while Strakgout collected four wins against a single loss.

Lite and Brute, seeded No. 3 and 4, respectively, needed to go through the quarterfinal round where they had to exploit their twice-to-beat edges to the hilt before moving into the semis.

Lite and Brute dropped their first matches in the quarterfinals against Ezbond and Mortaflow, respectively, but were saved by their twice-to-beat bonuses as they bounced back in the do-or-die duels to proceed to the semis.

Lite and Brute carried the momentum of their gritty quarterfinal performances into the semifinals and in the process arranged a titular showdown slated this Sunday at the above-mentioned venue.

Mortaseal and Strakgout will play for third.

Michael Cinco led Lite’s huge semifinal win by tallying 34, 13 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a block. John Buhawe added 18 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, and two assists, while Pido Sanchez had 13 points.

Jay Devenadera led Strakgout with 18 points. Mark Bajenting added 13 points and 13 boards, while Kimboy Marilao had 10 markers.

Brute, on the other hand, was powered by Dexsel Caadan, who produced 24 points, nine rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Carlos Baltar, Zach Go, and Miguel Cenabre pitched in. 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively.

Mortaseal was led by Chester Hinagdanan, who came up with 23 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists.(CCM)