FIGHTER 50, Kiboy’s Computer Solutions and the ARQ Builders/KSB Glass all emerged victorious after the first day of action in the Mayor Edgardo C. Labella 1st Charter Cup Basketball Tournament at the Cebu City Sports Institute on Tuesday night, Feb. 18, 2020.
Kiboy’s Computer Solutions (KCS) routed Aspa Scaffolding, 91-69, while Fighter 50 defeated LM Paragsa, 74-62. In the final game of the evening, the ARQ Builders/KSB Glass pulled away late to down the Athalia 1 on 1, 96-92.
All six teams were playing at press time in the second day of this pocket tournament that dangles a whopping P150,000 cash prize for the champion team. The six participating teams will play a single round-robin in the elimination round with the top four finishers moving on to the knockout semifinals.
With a roster filled with a who’s who of Cebu basketball including several standouts from the Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol of the MPBL, KCS led from start to finish against ASPA.
Vincent Minguito led KCS with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while University of the Visayas’ budding star Gabriel Cometa had 16 points and five steals. Big man Edrian Lao tallied 15 points, 11 boards and five assists in an all-around showing.
Meanwhile, Fighter 50 took over in the second half to take down LM Paragsa. The game was nip-and-tuck at the six-minute mark of the fourth with Fighter 50 ahead by just two, 63-61. But Fighter 50 was up to task with Jaybie Mantilla scoring a basket and Beanick Sealana adding two more to shove them in front, 69-61.
The ageless Dondon Hontiveros then delivered the killshot, sinking a three-pointer from the top of the arc to raise Fighter 50’s lead to double figures, 72-61, with just 3: 13 left in the game.
Former Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. MVP Jaybie Mantilla showed off his versatile game as he compiled 13 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and six steals for Fighter 50. Hontiveros finished with nine points, six boards, five assists and two blocked shots.
And lastly, The ARQ Builders/KSB Glass leaned on the plays of their veteran leaders to get them the win against the tough Athalia squad. ARQ was on the cusp of defeat as they trailed, 89-92, after Athalia’s John Reel Saycon scored on a lay-up with 50 seconds remaining. However, former pro Jerick Cañada found himself wide open from the thing and swished a three-pointer to knot the count at 92-all with 45 seconds to go.
After Athalia’s Darrell Shane Menina missed a triple on the other end, ARQ’s Jojo Tangkay got fouled on his way to the rim and made two free-throws to give his team a 94-92 lead with just 19 seconds remaining on the clock.
On Athalia’s offensive, the ball made its way to an open Jesse Aloro at the corner. However, the prolific forward from Cebu Institute of Technology-University missed a wide-open triple which then led to Cañada making two free-throws on the other end to seal the win for ARQ.
Tangkay continues to defy time as he scored 32 points to lead ARQ. (JNP)