The Filipino Canadian Basketball League of Yukon continued its semifinal action on Saturday afternoon at the Canada Games Centre.

The playoff games are a continuation of the league’s 13th season, which was halted in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 measures are in place to ensure the safety of the players and referees. One change followed on Saturday was a new rule instituted by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

After each stoppage in play, the ball would be switched out for one that was wiped down with sanitizer. Using more than one ball is atypical in a basketball game. Care was given to assure the two balls used had the same bounce and feel as to not disrupt the flow of the game.

On the court this week after the long hiatus was Elias Dental versus Viernes Janitorial.

Elias Dental rallied in the fourth quarter to edge out their counterparts 81-73.

Viernes was at a disadvantage from the opening tip as they only had four players suited up and on the court.

Despite being underpowered, they dictated the pace of the play. In the opening stanza, they used the transition game for easy buckets. When they had to run halfcourt sets, they saw success in the drive and kick game and hit their three-point shots at a respectable clip.

When they didn’t hit their shots, they used strong rebounding to get easy put-backs.

On defence, they had to play a two-two zone, only being four players they didn’t have someone in the middle for the conventional two-one-two zone defence.

Elias Dental did a good job of moving the ball around the perimeter and making the Viernes defenders chase.

By using the ball movement they found holes in the D and got easy shots from within the key. When Viernes collapsed the paint Elias kicked out to open shooters who were able to knock down a few three-pointers.

The second frame was much the same as the first. The teams traded buckets but Viernes was still able to hold onto their slight lead.

Elias Dental began taking advantage of the tired Viernes legs and got out onto the fast break for easy buckets in transition.

Help did arrive for Viernes midway through the second quarter as they were joined by two of their players, better late than never.

The game remained close through the third but it was in the fourth quarter that Elias Dental began to run away with the game, and at the final buzzer they had punched their ticket to final.

Because they were a lower seed, if Viernes had won they would have had to play Elias Dental again for a chance at the final – think the NBA play-in game between Portland and Memphis for the eighth playoff seed.

Elias Dental had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double-digits. Christian Miral led the Elias attack netting 17. Kevin Octavio scored 14, Jo Aying had 13 and Ryan Lane chipped in 11.

Aaron Diaz led all scorers Saturday with 26 points. Damon Sabourin potted 23 and John Madrigal had 16.

Waiting for Elias Dental is Domino’s Pizza who defeated Silver 97-72 the week prior at the Canada Games Centre.

Domino’s and Silver were in a close game until the fourth quarter when Domino’s applied a full-court press and ran away with it to secure their finals berth.

The finals will be played best of three and is a rematch of the championships from the previous year – they will begin on Saturday.

The basketball action will continue into Sunday, as the Filipino Canadian Basketball League of Yukon begins its Over 35 semifinals. In that game, the number one seed Whitehorse Subaru will take on fourth seed Tim Hortons.