G6: GK Warriors too much for Elkton Blazers, 68 - 41

Report by Jun Rana

Tournament favorite GK Warriors vaunted firepower and balanced scoring proved too much for the Elkton Blazers and the demolition-duo of brothers Mario and Santini Lancioni. The Warriors whipped the hapless Blazers 68-41 to enter the second round of the playoffs and eliminated the Blazers. Four GK Warriors had double digits and combined for 49 points to top the efforts of Lancioni brothers who combined for 34 points.

Early in the first half, Leo Yanogacio, Ryan De Gracia and Ian Clemente lead a three man assault to put GK in a commanding 23-9 lead. It was a lead which they never relinquished. Yogi Veranga had 2 triples in the second half which helped the Warriors withstood the challenge of the Blazers.

As the game went beyond the reach of the Blazers, GK second unit players Dads Cardenio and Herb Monsalud contributed 5 and 4 points, respectively during the last five minutes of the game. Cardenio scored a triple to the delight of the GK fans.

G5: Dragons run rings around a Lancioni-less Blazers, 77 - 42.

Baltimore Dragons flexed its dragon muscles by taking advantage of a Lancioni-less Elkton Blazers to notch their 3rd straight win, 77 - 42. Julio Concepcion exploded with a game high, 31 points, to lead an early 18-5 blitz that spelled doom for the Blazers.

Julio Concepcion, who scored 10 points in the first half, helped the Dragons increase their lead at halftime to 38 - 19. Julio continued his scoring rampage in the second half by connecting 21 more points, with 6 of his baskets coming from the 3-point area. He also played an all-around game by snatching 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

The hapless Blazers anchored its scoring woes on Jim Reynolds who dished out 16 markers. So dominant were the Dragons that they ended up with a 35 point win.

- With reports from Jun Rana and Scribbs.

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Box Scores:
Dragons: Concepcion, 31; Latogo, 12; Edades, 11; Gumatay, 11; Concepcion, F., 6; Barsotos, 4
Blazers: Reynolds, 16; Gurango, 13; Echvestre, 5; Dela Cruz; 4; Jirkowsky, 2; Lalicon, 2.

G4: Lancioni brothers lift Blazers in OT to foil TFC, 69 - 67

Mark their names, Mario (4) and Santini (20), known among their circles as the Lancioni brothers, became the Blazers' demolition-duo, as the pair barges the Blazers to their first win in OT and humbles TFC's firepower to their knees.

So close was the game between the Blazers and TFC, that the Elton squad needed an overtime period to seal its first win (the first OT game of this round) in 4 outings. In the dying seconds of the regulation play, with TFC comfortably leading by three, Mario Lancioni (4) dashes to their front court and releases a 3-point swoosh to throw the game in overtime.

In the ensuing overtime period, it was another Lancioni-show as the demolition-duo scored all of the Blazers' 7 points, with Mario (4) drilling in 5 (a 3-point shot and a regular basket) and Santini connecting on two crucial free throws. With overtime almost coming to a close, and the Blazers leading by two, TFC's Paul Nicdao (15) missed a 3-point desperation shot to give the Blazers a dramtic win in overtime.

The Blazers' demolition-duo led all scorers with a combined 63-point output. Mario topscored the Blazers' front with 38 points, including 8-for-8 in free throw shooting and 4 triples. Santini, on the other hand, came second with 25 points, 4 three-point shot connections and 75% free throw shooting.

Box Scores:
Blazers: Lancioni, M., 38; Lancioni. S.,25; Dela Cruz, 2; Echvestre, 2; Orbeta, 1; Gurango, 1.
TFC: Nicdao, P.,13; David, 11, Dazon, 10; Fogata, 10, Sanchez, 7; Esquerra, 7; Mendoza, 6; Santos, K., 2; Devera, 1.