After leading the tournament in the elimination round, top seed Ceres Pasalubong’s bid for the title fell on the wayside as the team bowed to Shakey’s/New Energy Mkt., 64-57 in the semifinals of the 5th SJI Alumni Basketball Friendship Cup at the Msgr. John B. Liu Activities Center.

Shakey’s/New Energy Mktg. 2008/10/11 will face Terra Dolce/Jollibee 1990/91/92 for the titular showdown tonight, 8 p.m.

It was a roller-coaster ending between Shakey’s and Ceres in the semifinals with Shakey’s on top 58-56 with 1:12 remaining in the game and Alvin Dionela was assessed with two technical fouls to turn the tide for New Energy.

Dionela’s younger brother Allen, who was playing for Shakey’s, sunk three of four free throws to push the lead to 61-57, while Bren Tajonera made one of two free throws for Ceres which proved to be the team’s last point.

Earlier Ceres took a 17-9 opening quarter lead as Alvin Dionela and Bren Tajonera combined for 11 points.

Ceres continued to take a double digit lead behind the inside plays and free throws of Brian Coo, but a strong second quarter windup by Luigi Coo with five straight points, cut the lead to 29-24 at the break.

Mark Coo of Shakey’s came out firing in the third quarter as they cut the lead to a point, but Brian Javelosa five straight points kept the lead for Ceres at 34-32.

Ceres, spearheaded by Renz Mendoza, extended the lead anew to 45-37, but four straight points by New Energy drew them closer at 45-41.

Luigi Coo’s triple cut the deficit to 45-47, but Ceres Raymund Lacson’s trey brought the lead back to five points.

Allen Dionela assisted in two Charles Del Castillo’s undergoal basket and Dionela started to connect on his jumpers including a triple with 2:26 left to tie the game at 56-all.

Danty Ma’s layup, resulting from a broken play, gave the lead to New Energy 36 seconds later at 58-56.

Ceres, missing five of six free throws in the last 1:36, including the technical fouls, doomed their finals chances as they are relegated to a battle for third place against Phoenix tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Allen Dionela finished with 12 points, eight of them delivered in the fourth quarter, backstopped by Charles Del Castillo with 11 points, Mark Coo 10, Luigi Coo, Jappy Cuaycong with 6 points.

Alvin Dionela led a balanced Ceres offensive with 9 points, Raymund Lacson , Martin Jalandoni and Brian Coo with 8 points each, Renz Mendoza and Tajonera with 7 points.

Earlier, erstwhile No. 3 team Terra Dolce dominated No. 2 Phoenix 1999/2K from start to finish to score a convincing 77-45 victory.

The 1-2 punch combined output Peewee Demonteverde and Bol Manaloto for Terra Dolce outscored Phoenix as they delivered 29 and 26 points, respectively.

From a 35-28 Jollibee lead at the break, Terra Dolce limited Phoenix to 17 points in the second half to score the lopsided win as the lead ballooned to more than 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Scoring six points each for Terra Dolce were Glenn Ortaliz and Dominic Ciocon.

Rhett Demonteverde paced Phoenix with 13 points, Bogs Ongsingco added 12 points, and Paolo Li had 9 points.*with a report from Stephen Tan

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