2018 ABA cage finals tonight
EXICITING final matches will be played tonight in the 8th Xavier University High School Alumni Basketball Association (XUHS-ABA) at the Xavier University gym here.
Defending champion XUHS 1994 will try to defend its title against the tough challenge of 1995 for the St. Francis Xavier Cup in the main event at 8:15 pm.
In the 6:45 pm curtainraiser, Gamba 1997 and Alumni 2001 will figure in a championship battle for the first time in the St. Peter Faber Cup.
Batch 94 needs to match 1995’s magic three in towering 6-foot-4 center Paul “Shantao” Moreno and reliable guards Chippy Yacapin and Jan-Jan Geroy.
Red-hot playmaker Jerome Pagute is expected to lead the 94ers along with Paul Valencia, though the team may have no answer for power center-forward Moreno.
“We will be quiet about our preparations. We don’t know that quickness will beat them,” said Dhon Lazo, a member of 1994.
Gamba 97ers will have only Niku Benson Valles as their lone reinforcement as ex-San Miguel Beer forward Bitoy Omolon and bull-strong center Andrew Neri begged off to skip Game One.
“I guess they have to believe in themselves. I believed in Niku that he could pull this one as the batch’s first,” said Valles.
Valles lifted Gamba to the final via a 71-62 semifinal win over XUHS 1999 some two weeks ago.
The younger Batch 2001 could not be taken for lightly as coach Rey Dangcal would be around to call for the shots.
“We can’t afford to underestimate 2001 because our batch governor saw them practicing at the sports center,” said Franz “QQ” Quiblat, Batch 97 president.
Dangcal is one of the decorated young coaches in the locality when he established the Southern de Oro Philippines College as a championship caliber team in the intercollegiate hoopfest.
Meanwhile, Jammers 2005 and XUHS 2007 will open their Game One tussle for the St. Ignatius de Loyola Cup final tomorrow.
A battle for third between XU United and Spartans 91 will serve as game header at 6:45 before the Jammers-007ers match.
All game two finals will be played on Sunday.