AFTER a week of preparation, the best-of-three finals between Malabuyoc and Dumanjug in the 1st Calderon Cup 21-Under Inter-Town basketball tournament begins Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Malabuyoc Sports Complex.
Armed with homecourt advantage, Malabuyoc tries to defend its turf in Game 1 in front of what is expected to be a huge hometown crowd.
Coach Fieljohn Mejo said the support of their fans has given his players added energy and confidence.
“The home-court advantage is a huge help, not only because we are familiar with the court, but also because of the support from our fans. It boosts the morale of the players, especially during crucial moments,” said Mejo.
Still, Mejo stressed that homecourt advantage alone will not guarantee victory.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. We still need discipline, preparation, and teamwork to ensure a good result,” added Mejo, who also revealed that some of his players are dealing with minor injuries.
Mejo believes his team also has an edge in defense and teamwork. He hopes to improve their rotations and communication on the floor.
Leading Malabuyoc are Joseph Velarde, Kyle John Cardosa, Jake Leo Quimm, Chris Dionne Gadiana, and Jayson Cabrera, who scored 34 points in their semifinal win
over Alegria.
Meanwhile, Dumanjug coach Nilo Quirante is confident his squad can steal Game 1 and grab the homecourt advantage.
Quirante said they have focused heavily on their game plan in practice and even trained last Sunday at the Malabuyoc Sports Complex to familiarize themselves with the court.
“We still have some minor adjustments, but I reminded them to be more aggressive on defense because our opponents have good shooters,” said Quirante, a former Cebu Gems player.
Expected to lead Dumanjug are Raquel James Teleron, Jhun Miguel Telmo, Renz Nathan Villarojo, and Carl Escuadro.
Malabuyoc earned homecourt advantage after beating Alegria, 97-92, in the semifinals, while Dumanjug advanced after edging Moalboal, 65-62.
Game 2 is set on Saturday, May 9, in Dumanjug. If necessary, Game 3 will return to Malabuyoc. / JBM