CCUPA, MP Brokers complete semifinal cast

CEBU, Philippines - Host Cebu Customs United Personeros Association (CCUPA) led by president Yoly Cena and Marty Pimentel (MP) Brokers demolished separate rivals to complete the semifinal cast in the 1st CCUPA-CCBI basketball tournament last Thursday at the Benedicto College gym along A.S. Fortuna Street in Brgy. Banilad, Mandaue City.

In the opener, CCUPA needed the finishing kick of Takloy Moral and Gelrun Gelbolingo to beat the MAJOS Brokers, 84-69, while title hopeful Pimentel Brokers of team captain Francis Ibo proved too hot to handle for the Canillas-Gonzales (CG) Brokers, 71-47.

Thus, CCUPA and Pimentel joined CEBAMA and the MS Trucking into the next phase of the tournament

The crossover semis will start tomorrow at the Cogon-Ramos gym, with the top-ranked CEBAMA taking on No. 4 qualifier Pimentel, while the second seed CCUPA slugs it out with No. 3 MS Trucking. The winners will then clash for the championship in a knockout affair.

Moral, the most effective center in the tournament and a leading candidate for MVP, paced CCUPA with 24 points. He was ably backed up by Gelbolingo with 14 points and Reden Villaronza with 10.

Nikki Pimentel, on the other hand, once again led his father's team with 11 points. (FREEMAN)