Sports: Condura, Syntax in Sharp-BUSG Finals
Powerhouse Condura lived up to its billing as the team to beat and dealt Panasonic a 92-85 beating while Syntax nipped Homesite Basketball Organization,
84-82 in the semifinal of Sharp-Basketball Unified Sports Group invitational tournament on Sunday at West Negros University gym.The Ref Makers duplicated its 114-107 triumph over thesame team on July 8 while Syntax mimicked its 75-72 victory over HBO in opening day on June 17.
Bert Celis was 12 for 12 from the free throw line and topscored with 24 points. Felipe Tumamot added 20 and Bernie Chan has 17 on medium jump shots aside from hauling rebounds at both ends for the Ref Makers.
The luckless Panasonic got 25 points from Hermi Derwill, 15 from Tanker Habaradas and 12 from Rey de Guzman. Koko Fuentebella, Macky Macayan and Biboy Java combined for 22 points to keep the game close. Condura, however, took the last 3 quarters after trailing 19-20 in the first quarter.
Syntax squandered its 51-41 advantage at half and barely survived the biggest scare from HBO which got the lead 63-62 on Amit Teruel’s triple. It was a seesaw battle till the end with Rex Bayer splitting his penalties for the final count.
HBO’s James delos Reyes nearly extended the game missing a layup after getting a fastbreak pitch with 1.09 seconds left after Bayer, who has 20 points, made his second free throw.
Arnel Tornilla penetrated with 18 points, Dagol Flores scattered 17 and Raymundo Sapa sank 14 markers 12 from the arc.Teruel waxed hot with 23 points 15 coming from the triple while Reynaldo Celodino scattered 22. delos Reyes sniped 17 and Francis Occida 11 for HBOs losing cause.
Final schedule on August 5 pits HBO against Panasonic at 2:00 p.m. for third place while Condura and Syntax follows at 3:30. The winner gets a championship trophy and cash prize of P4,000, the runnerup a trophy and P2,000
Tournament commissioner Bing Soyao said that it is anybody’s game notwithstanding the 77-70 triumph of Condura over Syntax in the first round.* (HGDoble)
