Win or bust

MANDAUE City will fight for survival as they host Team Cordova when the Cebu Governor’s Cup 2019 Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball tournament resumes in Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex and four other venues around Cebu Province tonight. Coming from frustrating back-to-back losses, Mandaue City has to work doubly hard as they shoot for the elusive victory in the sixth district elimination phase.

The Gary Cortes coached-Mandaue City (0-2) lost to Consolacion (2-0) 86-85 and Cordova 89-88 (1-1) needed to win tonight’s game and the match on April 6 against Consolacion Sarok Weavers in order to secure a seat to the “intra-district” competition on the next round. Gab Cometa, Kenneth Brillo and Lemuel Jake Gonzaga will have to be more efficient in both offense and defense to deny Cordova’s Karl Ventura, JR Sumalinog and company from scoring another upset.

Also playing for survival are Oslob Whale Sharks (2-1), Siempre Samboan (2-1) and Alcoy Siloy (2-1) in the second district competition in Alcoy Municipal Gym and Badian (1-1) and Malabuyoc (1-1) in the 7^th District Group B actions in Alegria Municipal gym. Oslob’s high scoring back-court tandem – Renzo Abines and Jake Cabigon, will be tested against the equally explosive guards of Samboan Andrew Catipay and John Michael Rosal at 6PM.

While Alcoy will need the usual contributions of Renley de Leon and RR de los Santos to complement the high scoring game of Hance Estrera as the Siloy faces Jimbo Torion, Jomari Parantar, Darren Lloyd Dayag and the hardworking division leader Argao (3-0) in the main game at 7:30PM in the second district. In Balamban, the 3^rd District leadership will be at stake as Balamban (2-0) hosts Tuburan (1-1) at 6PM.

Balamban defeated Tuburan in overtime 97-96 last March 9 in Tuburan Municipal Gym that provided additional plot to tonight’s game in Balamban Municipal Gym. Over in Alegria Municipal gym, the home squad will try to lean on its home town crowd to beat the bracket leader Badian (2-0) at 7:30PM while Malabuyoc will be shooting for a playoff spot at 6PM.