San Marino stays alive in finals race

CEBU, Philippines - Following their infamous walkout against the Gaisano Capital-UC Webmasters four days ago, the San Marino Corned Tuna-SWU Cobras quickly erased the stigma of that embarrassing defeat by clobbering Rose Aquarius-USPF Panthers, 71-56, to stay alive in the final race of the 5th CESAFI Partners' Cup last Wednesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Thus, San Marino forged a do-or-die match against Lion Tiger Aeresol, with the winner earning the right to challenge Gaisano Capital in the best-of-five title series starting on Monday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The decision of San Marino coach Bong Begontes to default their game last Monday prompted commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. to recommend to the CESAFI Board the banning of Begontes in future tournaments although SWU has the final say if he will still be allowed to call the shots for the Cobras in the regular season.

San Marino's outside shots were clicking at all angles. Bonifacio Guillena III sank a barrage of 3-pointers to cash in a game-high 24 points, while Eleazar Armecin added 16 points.

Earlier, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons walloped the Junemar Fajardo-led Gaisano Capital, 99-74, in a prestige match that sent another indication that Fajardo maybe the strongest local player but it seemed he is not yet ready to challenge big men from Manila, the land he is wishing to invade by storm in the future.

Although Fajardo fairly played his role as center, his defensive capability against the visiting UAAP players is questionable. At times, the 6-foot-9 tower was outsmarted by the smaller UP players because of his tentative and late reactions.

Spunky playmaker Angelo Montecastro, a transferee from College of St. Benilde in the NCAA to UP, gobbled up all defenders thrown against him to explode with 35 points.

Mike Silungan backed up Montecastro with 15 points, while Mike Gamboa and Jett Manuel each chipped in 11 markers as the UP Maroons underscored their dominance over their CESAFI counterparts via a clean 4-0 sweep. (FREEMAN)