Mandaue City lead winners at the start of Gov’s Cup Quarterfinals

MANDAUE City Ballers caught Danao City napping in the opening period to lead all the way en route to a dominating 76-69 win at the start of the quarterfinal round games of the Cebu Governor’s Cup 2019 Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament at the Jose S. Macoy Memorial Sports Complex in Dumanjug town.

While the Ballers continued to improve and picked its fourth consecutive win, the bigger Danao City could not impose its size and height advantage, especially when Mandaue City big man Kenneth Brillo fouled out of the game at the 2:40 mark of the third period.

Danao City failed to capitalize its huge advantage in the middle as the Edsel Vallena mentored squad could not execute its game plan, until the final 4 minutes of the game.

“That’s what happened when players are offense conscious. It seems that they like to read their names in the news. That’s why they played individual games. As a result, the team suffered and we trailed all the way,” Vallena told iNews.Ph.

Brillo, who scored six to help Mandaue City establish momentum early in the game collected his fifth foul after he was slapped with a technical, shortly after he committed a blocking foul on the driving Ian Benedict Olivar. The technical foul was whistled after Brillo uttered profane words, giving referee Elmer Asignar a reason to slap a technical foul, for his fifth and final foul.

In the absence of Brillo, the inside defense of Mandaue City slackened but Danao City was already trailing by 17, 61-44 before their trapping defense started to bear fruits near the final minutes of the game.

The 5th District champions had various rally including a quick 9-2 run in the final 4 minutes that gave hopes to Danao City to turn the table around. But Archie Buscay scored the much-needed basketball and Mandaue City stayed afloat, 76-61, 1:26 left in the game.

Even if Danao City scored the final eight points, it did not stop the 5th District champions from losing its first game after winning its first five matches.

Gab Cometa lead Mandaue City scorers with 16 points and Archie Buscay made 15 for the 6th District titlists while Vincent Bugtai had 16 points, Ken Clark Montero added 14, Fehler James Torralba and Justin Mondares finished with 10 points each for Danao City.

Meanwhile, Gelmart Umpad dropped the game-high 25 points and Roland Canales and Luther Leonard added 14 points each as Medellin started the quarterfinal round with a 90-59 victory over Siempre Balamban while ASB Balamban survived the end game rally of the home squad Team Dumanjug for a 77-71 win.

Albet John Sacayan sank four triples of his game-high 20 points to lead Balamban which also drew 16 points each from Jushoa Gellacone and Jacob Fernandez. Arnold Villarojo lead Dumanjug scorers with 19 points, Clester Quiñanola contributed 16 and Jade Cañete finished with 12 for Dumanjug.

While the Group B competition yielded lopsided results in Tuburan Municipal Gym.

The Consolacion Sarok Weavers arrested a two-game slide after beating Team Sogod, 98-79, with Brevin Keith Padayogdog picking up from his high scoring act from the Mandaue City games as he finished with 29 points and Jessie Bathan contributing 17 markers.

Minglanilla Archangels showed no love for the 4th District runner-up Tabuelan after scoring a 95-69 and the home team Tuburan proved too much for the visiting Team Alegria with a 98-75 victory with no record of roughhousing or any game commotions.

This puzzled the organizers why their vehicles including the two vehicles of Alegria were pelted with stones while they were on their way home.

The two vans hired by Cebu Provincial Sports Commission to transport the game officials had dent marks from fist-size stones on the sides while Alegria’s bus had broken windows. The bus driver was reported to suffer wounds from glass shards.

The incident happened in Brgy. Mangga but the convoy proceeded to the well-lighted area in Brgy. Carmelo to wait for rescue and police to escort the vehicles out of danger.

Boxscores:

Mandaue City (76) – Cometa 16, Buscay 15, Sungahid 9, Brillo 8, de los Angeles 8, Marco 6, Dabon 5, Isok 5, Apas 4. Danao City (69) – Bugtai 16, Montero 14, Mondares 10, Torralba 10, Diaz 8, Molina 5, Rondina 3,  Olivar 2, Cahigas 1.

Quarterscores: 23-16; 41-27; 61-48; 76-69.

Medellin (90) – Umpad 25, Canales 14, Leonard 14, Recimiento 9, Booc 8, Saladaga 5, Banigon 4, Tumabini 4, Remulta 3, Despi 2, Ompoc 2. Samboan (59) – Dinampo 13, Calaurian 12, Rosal 9, Catipay 8, Manolong 6, Villena 4, Nalo 4, Luage 3.

Quarterscores: 20-19; 39-28; 61-36; 90-59.

Balamban (77) – Sacayan 20, Gellacone 16, Fernandez 16, Cortez 9, Nardo 4, Codiñera 3, Cabañero 3, Navarro 3, Tapdasan 2. Dumanjug (71) – Villarojo 19, Quiñanola 16, Cañete 12, Sacan 8, Degollacion 8, Casag 3, Mojado 2, Avila 2, Capones 1.

Quarterscores: 15-11; 32-28; 59-49; 77-71.