By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The University of St. La Salle (USLS)-Fyr Fyter and Royal Star Trading reached the finals of the 1st United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) 25-Under Open Tournament after beating their semifinals foes over the weekend.
USLS-Fyr Fyter created its much-needed separation from Colegio de San Agustin (CSA) Bacolod-Strived Sportswear in the overtime period to score a 66-59 victory at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Down 55-57 with three seconds left in the fourth quarter, USLS-Fyr Fyter got a conversion from John Edmund Escultura courtesy of an inbound pass from Mark June dela Cruz to send the game into overtime.
CSA-Bacolod got the first basket in the extended period courtesy of Rowel Negro before USLS-Fyr Fyter turned things around with nine unanswered points to capture the first championship slot.
Escultura and Martin Jay Beatingo finished with 11 points each to lead the way for the USLS-Fyr Fyter, while Dela Cruz and Andrie Dubouzet contributed 10 markers apiece in the victory.
Mycco Deposoy and Negro top-scored for CSA-Bacolod with 13 points each, Jemar Cepriano contributed 12 markers, while Kenneth Malazarte also had a decent scoring output with nine.
In the other semifinals game, Royal Star Trading proved to be the steadier team down the stretch as they scored a 94-90 victory over Davies Paints Philippines and, in the process, avenged their elimination round defeat.
Royal Star Trading played with a sense of urgency as they erected a 30-19 opening quarter lead. Davies cut the deficit to 35-42 in the second quarter, but Royal Star pulled away anew for a 55-44 halftime lead.
Davies went on a run in the third canto as they rallied to within 73-74 before tying the score at 88-all, but a basket by John Lloyd Licawan and free throws by Edsel Manday sealed the win for Royal Star Trading.
Licawan led the way with 12 points, Janlee Torrecampo chipped in 11 markers, while Saldy Christopher Macabatao drilled nine points for Royal Star, which will battle USLS in the finals on Sunday, May 28./ASC, WDJ