DEFENDING champions Tagoloan Tarantulas and newcomer El Salvador City Saints successfully opened their respective campaigns in the 2017 Kuyamis Inter-Municipality Basketball Tournament on Saturday, September 16, in Alubijid, Misamis Oriental.
The Tarantulas dodged the upset axe of host Alubijid via a thrilling 109-106 escape in their nightcap tussle.
Jim Crose Valdehueza and Ryan Panugaling spearheaded Tagoloan’s triumphant debut with 18 and 14 points each.
Tagoloan scored a crucial trey in the last 54 seconds of play to break a tight fourth quarter squabble to the home fans’ great consternation.
Rechan Jangao and Jenner Buray delivered 19 and 16 markers apiece for
Alubijid’s first defeat in two outings in the western division.
The Saints, on the other hand, made a successful comeback at the expense of Laguindingan, 102-91 behind the productive tandem of Fernando Macahilos and Kyle Kalagnara who collected 18 and 15 points each.
Ensoing Medina and siblings Jake and Michael Jabagat also contributed big for the Saints.
“Dako sab ang among kalipay nga niapil ang El Salvador kay nadugangan na kita ug hinaut molambo pa (We’re happy that El Salvador joined because the revenue increased and I hope it will prosper),” said over-all Kuyamis sportsfest chairman Prexy Elipe.
The Saints considered their win as a “feeler” to all as they wish to duplicate their titular finish in the now extinct Misamis Oriental Basketball League in 2003.
“We are hungry for a title and we thank Kagawad Elipe for granting us in the last minute and he won’t regret especially with our coach guiding our team,” said Rey Dancal, El Salvador’s youthful sports director.
This is Laguindingan’s third straight loss since the Kuyamis hoopfest opening, while the Tagoloan Jr. Tarantulas picked their second straight win in 18-under boys division against Naawan, 87-28 last Saturday.