RKF 5 Wins Sinulog Cup

RKF 5 Wins Sinulog Cup
SINULOG CUP MVP. Cedric Manzano of RKF-Iloilo swerves to his left as a Welec X AMC defender attempts to block his shot in this bit of Sinulog Cup action. Manzano was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. SUGBOANONG KODAKER
Published on

RKF Industrial and Installation Services (Iloilo) bagged the 2025 Cebu City Sinulog Cup basketball title when it defeated Welec X AMC, 74-69, at the Cebu Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.

Once again, Cedric Manzano, a standout from Adamson University in Manila, displayed an exceptional performance, scoring 16 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the six-day tournament organized by Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros and the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI).

Aside from the well-designed trophy, the Iloio-based squad also pocketed the P200,000 cash prize, while Welec brought home P100,000.

RKF team owner Ryan Keith Fio revealed that the squad was formed only early last year and has participated in several tournaments in the Western Visayas Region.

The Sinulog Cup is the first tournament they have participated in outside of the WV Region.

Their next target is the ongoing Cebu City Mayor Raymond Garcia Cup, Fio said.

“Masarap ang pakiramdan, kasi yun talaga ang goal nanim eh. Makuha ang championship sa Sinulog Cup. So, ngayon mayron pa kaming laro sa Mayor Raymond Garcia Cup, so dalawa na ang aming goal. Mag-champion kami back-to-back. Kunin namin yan,” said Fio.

(It feels great because that was really our goal — to win the championship in the Sinulog Cup. Now we still have a game in the Mayor Raymond Garcia Cup, so we have two goals. We want to be back-to-back champions. We’ll get that.)

“First nanim na sinalihan sa Roxas City, third kami roon, and then sumali kami sa Mayor’s Cup sa Passi City doon nag champion kami. Yun ang first championship namin,” bared Fio.

(The first tournament we joined was in Roxas City, where we finished third. Then we joined the Mayor’s Cup in Passi City, where we became champions. That was our

first championship.)

It was a close contest from start to finish with the lead changing 15 times and eight deadlocks were forged throughout.

Tied at 65-all with still 5:20 to go in the final quarter, Welec tried to pull away with a 4-0 run as Ivan Clark Alsola scored on a putback and Kent Ivo Salarda sank two free throws.

However, big men Manzano and Cedric Ablaza went back to work in the shaded lane with veteran guard Keith Pido directing the plays as RKF grabbed the lead, 72-69.

Shooting guard Wilmer Dalumpines cooly sank his two free throws after being fouled by Kenneth Brillo, sealing the final count.

“Hindi bumigay yung player (Dalumpines) eh. Sinunod lang yung sistema. Halos di na ako makatawag nang timeout, pero sila yung gumawa ng paraan para manalo. At saka sa itaas talaga. Bigay nang Jesus Christ ang panalo na ito,” said RKF coach Florence Conlu.

(The player didn’t give up. He just followed the system. I could barely call a timeout, but they found a way to win. This victory is really a gift from Jesus Christ.)

Meanwhile, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters devastated Cebu City Selection, 85-63, to snatch the third place honors.

UC pocketed P50,000 cash, while the Cebu City Selection went home with P25,000.

Also-ran Team Frasco got P10,000 as consolation prize.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.

Videos

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph