By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — Bacolod Steel Center and Johann Kendrick Tan (JKT) will dispute the Class B title in the Fil-Sino Intercompany Friendship Cup on Friday at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
Both teams defeated their respective opponents to arrange the titular showdown.
But between the two, Bacolod Steel is highly favored, as it has beaten JKT in the elimination, the latter team’s only loss.
Bacolod Steel overwhelmed Eversure Mktg., 91-74, while JKT held off Northwest Inn, 61-55, on Monday.
Holding a one-point lead, JKT’s Luigi Coo picked the right time to heave a triple and a three-point pay to give a crucial advantage, 57-50, with three minutes left in the game.
Jan Jan Young made a three-of-four from the line to seal the JKT victory, while Northwest had a meek response from Arian Chua and JR Lacson on their free throws.
Coo top scored with 22 points for JKT; Nico Yap added 13; Young shot 12; Edward Uy, five; and Devin Villacruz, four.
Kerwin Guillon paced Northwest with 10; Rey Jara added seven; while Leonard Kilayko, Lacson and Ervin Tan contributed six apiece; Wow Ong hit five; Ton Ton Chua and Chris Lim, four each.
Eversure took the first quarter, 21-15, and took the half, 45-32. It also led at the third, 69-51.
However, the sniping of Chief Inspector Adonis Rosales in the fourth quarter overwhelmed the lead for Bacolod Steel Center victory.
Jolly Castillo led a balance Steel offense with 14 points; JP Tan drilled 12; Rosales shot 11; Jeremy Coo hit nine; Keith Banzon and Noriel Bermudez, eight apiece; Brian Ong, seven.
Chipeng Uy had a game-high 16 points for Eversure; Beejay Paredes and Atty. Jubert Katalbas, 14 apiece; David Tan, eight; Atong Villanueva, seven; Joaquin Gochangco Jr., six; and Tubby Villanueva, five./PN
