THE Johner Merchandise skippered by Johner Espina, a member of a CIT-University Baby Wildcats crushed Duty Free, 78-68, over the weekend to advance to the finals of the Inter-Merchant-2013 basketball tournament at the T. Padilla Sports Complex, Cebu City.
Johner Merchandise will face Parklane Hotel in the finals after the latter won its semifinal assignment.
The Merchandisers jumped to an impressive, 25-15 run in the opening period behind the hot tandem of 3-point artist Johner Espina and Barok Ceniza and continued their onslaught in the 2nd stanza where they established their biggest lead of the ballgame, 39-26.
However, Duty Free sizzled in the 3rd period and responded with a fierce, 22-17 run led by Bong Cabrera and Dong Ferraren to cut their deficit to eight points, 48-56, going to the final stanza.
In the fourth period, Merchandiser’s coach Dale Singson, a former PBA standout directed his wards to apply tougher defense that hobbled Duty Free’s offensive stance as Johnmer Merchandise sealed the 10-point demolition.
The winner-take-all championship between Parklane Hotel and Johner Merchandise is slated this Saturday. /Correspondent Dale Rosal