Western Visayas pride UBUNTU captured Davao Agilas, 71-67, in a nerve-wracking basketball tourney in Spring Rain Global’s (SRG) 6th Missions Cup Championship, Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Loud roars from the crowd reverberated at Capitol Parish Gym, N. Escario St., Cebu City after a fiery first half emerged as both teams were not willing to give up the basket in the first two minutes of the first quarter.
However, Davao Agilas soared with a three-point lead, 16-13, against UBUNTU then secured the first half with a one-point lead, 34-33.
But a sudden turn of events refluctuated the Agilas in the second half as Johnrey Jakosalem, shooting guard, scored 25 points with an assist from teammate Junisio Nicario, center, who garnered 23 points that led them to their purposeful victory, 71-67.
“We helped each other to get our championship,” said Jovenal Ropero, head coach of UBUNTU.
He added that the team will utilize their P1 million prize money to help sick and elderly priests in their diocese.
Cash prizes were also awarded to the other teams with a consolation prize of P150,000.
Survivors Clergy Region 8, who placed third, won P200,000; second place, Agustinos Recoletos Mission in Asia and Africa won P400,000; and first place Davao Agilas won P600,000.
Meanwhile, Dr. Glenda M. Antonio, founder, president, and chief executive officer of SRG, expressed her gratitude after a successful three-day-event comeback, when operations ceased during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
“It is fulfilling that we have developed a platform for the priests to enjoy and promote a cause after we stopped [during the pandemic],” Antonio said.
She added they will open invitations starting at the end of the year to begin the new season of Spring Rain Global Mission Cup 2024. (Denise Mae Codis and Erica Abella, CNU Interns)