By ALI IAN MARCELINO V. BIONG and CRIS EUGENE T. GIANAN
DEFENDING CHAMPION Communication Arts (CA) and Economics will face each other in the Athena Cup basketball finals after overthrowing Behavioral Science (BES) and Philosophy, respectively.
CA kept BES at the bay, 71-60, as the team started the game with strong daggers from team captain Nicko Bahia and Josh Nacua.
Despite constant contributions from Isaak Austria and furious drives from Jun Duterte, BES failed to secure an advantage over CA.
Shots from CA’s Florito Jolbitado and three-pointers from the team nabbed an 11-point lead in the last quarter, securing CA a place in the finals.
“Thankful din kami na makabalik ulit sa finals kasi siyempre, champions kami last year at kailangan i-defend ‘yun,” Bahia told the Flame.
Economics snagged the finals slot from last year’s first runner-up Philosophy, 66-59.
Despite an early lead, Philosophy began to slump by the second quarter, with Economics pulling a 9-0 run courtesy of front runner Thomas Gubaton, along with Migz Florencio and Franz Medrano.
The finals will be held on Feb. 14 at the Seminary Gym.
Road to semis
BES, Philosophy, Economics and CA advanced to the semifinals after dominating their respective brackets.
Ending the first quarter at 20-5, BES maintained its dominance over English Language Studies by capping the game with a 24-point advantage, 67-43. BES also defeated Asian Studies after pulling a late rally in the match, 48-47.
Last year’s finalist Philosophy lambasted History with a staggering 36-point lead, 75-39, and trounced Journalism in its season opener, 62-27.
Economics kept Sociology trailing the entire game, 71-64, and dispatched Legal Management in the elimination round, 76-61.
CA prevailed in its bracket, outplaying PolSci, 50-45, and Literature, 85-75. F
