HOBE Bihon-Macway has made it to the semifinals of the Marikina City Basketball League the easy way.
Behind the hot-shooting Ronjay Buenafe, Hobe Bihon-Macway dumped Madam Tess, 104-88, and barged into the semifinal round of the tournament at the Marikina Sports Center.
Buenafe, one among the players vying for a spot at NLEX in the PBA, banged in 31 points built around nine three-point shots.
The stocky but shifty guard got ample support from import Darrel Bowie, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds while Eric dela Cuesta added 11 markers in a display of balanced firepower by Hobe Bihon-Macway, co-owned by Bobby Co and Erick Kirong.
Madam Tess was led by Jamil Ortuoste, who scattered 23 points.
Hobe Bihon-Macway shook off a slow start with a 13-0 run in the last three minutes of the first period to take control of the game. There was no looking back from there as the squad posted a 29-point lead off Chito Jaime’s triple in the last 42 seconds of the third period and made it a 78-49 advantage for Hobe Bihon-Macway.
Hobe Bihon Macway’s road to the playoffs was capped with a big win last week by blasting Philippine Army.
In the semifinal round, basketball fans will get a chance to see Donald Tankuoa of San Beda, now reinforcing Hobe Bihon-Macway, and Mike Nzesseu of Lyceum, now playing for FEU-NRMF, to renew their rivalry.
“It’s something fans could look forward to,” said MCBL commissioner Cris Bautista. “It’s like a rematch of the NCAA Finals between these two imports.”