Blue Hawks Tramp Tamaraws for a Shot at the Mayor Kirk Asis 2023 Title

COLD-Blooded Cebuano scoring machine Kenny Roger Rocacurva lines-up a free throw against the defending champions ARQ Builders-FEU Tamaraws in the final elimination round game of the Mayor Kirk Asis Open Basketball Tournament 2023. Rocacurva was one of the six players who arrived Thursday morning to help Wingbe Apartelle & Adbio Medica OPC-Immaculada Concepcion College Blue Hawks get off from being the whipping boys to become a title contender. (Photos courtesy of Angela Davocol)

 

Games today:

(Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium)

2PM – Vincare Pharma-LPU vs. Bustamante Construction-AdU (for 3^rd place)

4PM – Wingbe Apartelle/Adbio Mecia-ICC vs. ARQ Builders-FEU (championship)

 

 

BAYUGAN City, Agusan del Sur – From being considered whipping boys, the Wingbe Apartelle & Adbio Medica OPC-Immaculada Concepcion College Blue Hawks pulled the biggest surprise and evolved as the favorites to win the Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023.

 

The Blue Hawks finished top of the 4-team competition following a 73-64 win over the defending champions ARQ Builders-Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the final elimination round game that started at 9PM, Thursday evening. The win came at the heels of the Blue Hawks victory over the favoured Vincare Pharma-Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates, 92-72, on the 2PM game, also on the same day, that kept its championship hopes alive.

 

The success was made possible following the arrival of Camotes, Cebu-native Kenny Roger Rocacurva, Michael Maestre, Robbie Manalang, Jason Ballesteros and Ryan Costelo, a core of veteran players who reinforced the team after they got beaten to the pulp by the Bustamante Construction-Adamson University 81-52 last Wednesday evening.

 

Thanks to the 42-points production of Rocacurva, Maestre, Costelo and Polanio, the Blue Hawks scored a 20-point victory over the Pirates, and another combined 48 points performance from reinforced players were more than enough to subdue the Tamaraws.

 

 

The Caloocan City-based ICC picked its first win following a 92-72 win over the LPU Pirates at the 2PM game then followed by the come-from-behind win over the Tamaraws in the night cap.

 

 

Both the Blue Hawks and the Tamaraws had a 2-1 win-loss record, but by virtue of Wingbe/Adbio’s win over the ARQ Builders-backed defending champions, the honor of becoming the no.1 after the elimination round went to the Ogie Gumatay mentored Immaculada Concepcion College squad.

 

The Vincare Pharma-LPU who were winless after two games, took the third-place finish with an 86-83 win over Adamson University, also had a tie for the 3^rd place finish with their 1-2 win-loss slate. RCM

 

 

The Boxscores:

 

10AM Game

ARQ Builders-FEU 65 -Torres 18, Tempra 12, Alforque 12, Sleat 9, Añonuevo 4, Pasaol 4, Montemayor 3, Konateh 2, Baguno 2.

Bustamante Construction-AdU 58 – Lastimosa 13, Yerro 6, Hanapi 6, Jaymalin 6, Barasi 6, Manzano 4, Fermin 4, Montebon 3, Dignadice 3, Ojarikre 3 Calisay 2, Cañete 2.

Quarterscores: 21-16; 38-34; 49-44; 65-58

 

2PM game

Wingbio-ICC 92 – Sanjo 21, Costelo 16, Gabisan 14, Rocacurva 11, Jabonete 9, Manalang 7, Polanio 4, Maestre 4, Grado 4, Taala 2.

Vincare Pharma-LPU 72 – Barba 18, Omandac 11, Montaño 9, Umali 7, Peñafiel 7, Guadaña 5, Moralejo 5, Villegas 4, Fuentes 1.

Quarterscores: 25-19; 47-44; 69-59; 92-72.

 

7:30PM game

Vincare Pharma-LPU 86 – Barba 30, Guadaña 15, Villegas 11, Omandac 9, Umali 7, Peñafiel 5, Cabudbod 5, Aviles 2, Garro 2.

Bustamante Construction-Adamson University 83 – Erolon 16, Lastimosa 15, Manzano 10, Ojarikre 10, Yerro 9, Montebon 6, Jaymalin 6,
Magbuhos 3, Sicat 2, Cañete 2, Ramos 2.

Quarterscores: 19-23; 49-43; 69-71; 86-83.

 

9PM game

Wingbe-ICC 73 – Rocacurva 15, Costelo 13, Sanjo 11, Gabisan 10, Maestre 10, Ballesteros 6, Manalang 4, Palencia 4.

ARQ Builders-FEU 64 – Sleat 13, Pasaol 8, Tempra 7, Torres 7, Alforque 6, Baguno 5, Añonuevo 5, Fatty 4, Konateh 4, Ona 3, Competente 2.

Quarter scores: 17-20; 36-31; 47-55; 73-64.

 

 

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