Pasig eyes Coke Hoopla finals

MUNTINLUPA , Philippines  – Pasig battles Caloocan today for a twice-to-beat edge in the finals of the 2010 Coca-Cola Hoopla, having edged Makati, 85-84, late Wednesday in their Final Four showdown at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

Muntinlupa, in the other game, tripped Caloocan, 76-69, to share second place with its first round nemesis on 3-2 cards, behind leader Pasig’s 4-1 card.

The Pasigueños, East division champions, need only to beat Caloocan to claim the outright final seat in the cagefest organized by Coca-Cola, which aims to promote community-based basketball on a national level.

But they will have to do it on enemy territory - at Notre Dame University in Caloocan City.

A victory by Caloocan and Muntinlupa, against winless Makati, would result in a three-way tie for first, prompting the use of the quotient system to break the tie and determine the placings.

“We will know the No.1 team after Friday’s game,” said tournament organizer Joe Lipa.

Only the late heroics of Martin Fajardo saved the day for the Pasigueños lost a 10-point first quarter lead and fell behind 65-63 . Fajardo, who finished with 10 points, hit back-to-back baskets for 85-81, half a minute left. Arman Ulit, who had 10 points, then pushed Makati within a point with a triple but ran out of time.

Makati matched Pasig through 10 deadlocks but the Central division champion fell to a maze of errors down the stretch, enabling Pasig to snare the win and hand Makati its fifth straight defeat.