Duremdes, Kaw power FCVBA to ASEAN semis

MANILA, Philippines - Kenneth Duremdes and Louie Kaw combined for 31 points as the 40-above squad of the Filipino-Chinese Veterans Basketball Association (FCVBA) smothered the Kuala Lumpur side, 86-50, last Wednesday to roll into the crossover semifinals in the 25th ASEAN Veterans Basketball Tournament (AVBT) at the Chiang Kai Shek College gym in Tondo.

Duremdes, a former PBA MVP, sizzled with 16 points as FCVBA took a 43-30 halftime lead before the hosts ripped the game apart in the third frame on their way to sweeping the Group A elims.

Kaw backed up Duremdes with a solid 15-point output while Dexter Quan and Lorenzo Lim chipped in 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as the FCVBA cagers finished the elims with a 2-0 slate.

Meanwhile, FCVBA’s 50-above and 60-above teams likewise barged into the semis by sweeping their respective divisions in the tournament sponsored by Freego Jeans, Philippine Airlines, Rain or Shine, and Ironcon Builders.

Led by former La Salle star Kenneth Yap, Eduard Tio, Johnny Chua, and Julio Cruz, the 60-above squad clobbered Brunei, 82-49.

Yap tallied 15 points and seven assists, Chua scattered 14 markers while Cruz and Tio added 11 and 10 points, respectively, as FCVBA topped Group A with a 3-0 card.

For the second straight game, Lucio “Bong” Tan Jr. put on a brilliant all-around show, hitting seven triples to finish with 30 points and completed a double-double performance with 10 assists. He also had four steals to bag the Freego Player of the Game plum.

Allan Caidic, another former PBA MVP, scattered 18 markers aside from dishing off five assists as the 50-above squad also finished its group elims with a 3-0 mark. Also shining were Gerry Tee and ex-Letran star Jerry Gonzales with 20 and 11 points, respectively.

Already in the final is the club’s 65-above squad of Terry Que and Jimi Lim, which completed a two-game sweep of its group elims.