Semifinals matchup preview: Warriors vs ASPAC Boys

Team Warriors and ASPAC Boys, the finalists of the 2015 APCRAA Alumni Basketball Tournament (AABT) First Conference will square off once again, this time, for the right to enter the championship round of the 2nd Conference.

Both teams have faced each other in the First Conference twice, both of which were won by the Warriors, who eventually became the champions of the tournament.

(See: Powerhouse dumps Gladiators, Warriors defeat ASPAC Boys in APCRAA basketball tourneys)

The Warriors are composed of the same core players: Archie Gratil, Pepe Canseco and George Dela Cuesta. Gratil, who dominated the First Conference and won the MVP award, had a lower scoring output this conference: 17.3 points per game (ppg), with 4 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game (rpg).

To maintain the Warriors’ standing, Canseco stepped up to the plate. He contributes mostly in the rebounding category with 16 rpg, while scoring 10.2 points per game.

Dela Cuesta also helps the team in scoring, averaging 14 points per game, and adding 9.8 boards per game.

The frontline of the ASPAC Boys changed significantly, adding more players for a better chance to win the championship this conference.

Their core is made up of James Armedilla, VG Agdamag and James Magbitang. The trio are averaging in double digits in scoring, led by Armedilla with 16.6 ppg, plus 5.4 rebounds per game.

Mark Pagaduan, who helped his team during the championship game in the First Conference, had respectable numbers, but was only seen in ASPAC Boys’ first two games.

The Warriors continued to outmaster the ASPAC Boys in the 2nd Conference, winning their elimination round game, 75-69 on September 19. The Warriors continued to win their next assignments, sweeping the whole eliminations with a 6-0 record. It should be noted that their two victories were via forfeit.

(See: Warriors beat ASPAC Boys)

Nevertheless, the team is on track to win back-to-back championships for this season, as they earned an automatic semifinals slot.

As for the ASPAC Boys, they won three games in the eliminations, ending up with a 3-3 slate in the standings. They faced the Engineering All-Stars in the quarterfinals and won it via forfeit.

The winner of this semifinals series will be up against the winner of the Bumblebees-OGs matchup in the championship round on December 12.