Lapu-Lapu grabs first ever Inter-City basketball crown

Robbed of one point due to a scorer’s mistake, the Lapu-Lapu Chiefs played cool under heavy fire to smoke out the Bogo Bogoys, 79-76, in the deciding game of their best-of-three finals series and clinch the historic first ever title of the Inter-City Challenge Cup basketball tournament on Sunday night at the Lapu-Lapu Plaza covered court.

Aside from taking home the championship, the Chiefs of coach Larry Villanil and team manager Harry Radaza also bagged the whopping grand prize of P2 million worth of projects from the Countrywide Development Fund (CDF) of Senate president Manny Villar.

Last Friday, the Talisay Aquastars already settled for third place after beating the Danao Pistols, 95-83.

 Still reeling from their 78-79 loss in Game 2 last Saturday in Bogo that sent the series into its full route, the Chiefs trailed by 12 points, 16-28, in the second period, but wielded a never-say-die spirit in the remainder of the game to consummate what had been the greatest escape of the two-month hardcourt wars.

Inspired  with the presence of Mayor Arturo “Boy” Radaza and his beloved wife Paz, the barangay captain of Mactan, the Chiefs countered with a 19-11 run to square the count at 33-all with 1:26 before halftime.

The Bogoys restored a nine-point edge, 46-37,  but the big-hearted Chiefs managed to engage the visitors from Bogo in a see-saw battle the rest of the way.

In the final stretch, the Chiefs proved steadier on both ends of the court and banked on the crucial baskets of Jarjar Degamo and Rino Berido to finally seal the deal.

At one point in the closing minutes of the game, the Chiefs wanted to clarify the official count as the two free-throw conversions by Bogo top gunner June Ace Ursal were mistakenly counted for three points.

From a 65-69 tally, it would have been 67-69 not 68-69 but the latter score was carried on as the match entered into its most crucial point with four minutes left to play.

A beautiful turnaround shot by league MVP Degamo and a five-point swing by Berido gave the Chiefs a 76-70 cushion. Bogo pulled within 76-78  and could have forged an overtime but Noli Balili’s potential game-tying attempt did not went in.

In the final sequence, Orly Amores split his charities but that was all the Chiefs needed to float in cloud nine.

“Our team still needs  more polishing, it lacks the experience. Nevertheless, it was really a very nice game and we succeeded in our campaign,” said Mayor Radaza.

“At least na-proved namo nga deserving mi ma-champion. Didto ra gani unta sa Game 2. Nagpasalamat ko sa akong mga players nga bisa’g nabiya-an mi, wala gihapon mo-give up. Grabe gyud ilang determinasyon,” said coach Villanil.

Degamo had another big scoring night for the Chiefs with 21 points.  Ritchel Falcon finished with 14 points followed by Amores with 10.

Bogo, who lost Kim Valenzuela on ejection because of two unsportsmanlike fouls, were led by the tandem of Ursal and Balili with 28 and 25 points, respectively.

The scores

Lapu-Lapu (79) - Degamo 21, Falcon 14, Amores 10, Berido 9, A. Pancho 8, Dalumpines 5, Soroño 4, Morata 4, Baguio 2

Bogo (76) - Ursal 28, Balili 25, Seno 9, Pelayo 8, Valenzuela 4, Pedroza 4, Casinillo 2, Asingua 1

Halftime: 33-40