After years of playoff frustration, the Duncan City Admirals came up huge in the biggest game of their young franchise as they defeated top-rank Chi Leaders 83-68 last night at the sold-out Alamo Riverwalk Arena.
The Admirals leaned on the double-double performances of PF Thaddeus Tandog And C Filmore Milanes. Tandog had 18pts and 10 rebs while Milanes added 10pts and 19rebs.
Expecting the Leaders to come up firing at the start of the game, the Admirals decided to go to their 3-2 Zone defense to limit the Leaders’ offense. They also decided to move away from Milanes and focus on their outside shooting with their Motion offense.
Milanes was expected to be a marked man as he torched the Leaders inside in Game 1, finishing with monster numbers of 27pts, 17rebs, 3stls and 4blks in the pulsating 75-73 win at the Leaders home court.
“We really scouted their tendencies, and Game 1 also helped us prepare for them,” said Admirals coach Macoy Bolivia. “They swept us during the eliminations but we learned a lot from those 2 games.”
After barely escaping Game 1, Game 2 was a different story for the Admirals. They quickly jumped out to a 10-2 lead and never looked back. Their biggest lead was at 25, 68-43, established early in the 4th Quarter.
3 other players finished in double figures for the Admirals. G/F Arvin Montoya, who moved into the starting lineup during the Finals, had 16pts. G/F Abdul Hussein Escarza, who moved to the PG spot with Montoya’s rise, finished with 14pts and 7rebs. G/F Maximo Lacuesta added 11pts off the bench.
The Admirals now have a 1 week break as they await which 3rd Division they will be promoted to. Their homecourt will also undergo some renovations as they prepare for their move up.