4 teams remain standing in Aloguinsan hoopfest

CEBU - Only four teams remained standing in the 1st Aloguinsan Mayor’s Cup basketball tournament.

The star-studded Mandaue team bannered by ex-pros Dale Singson, Gilbert Demape and Anton Villoria will slug it out with the Survivors in the first semifinal match on Saturday, while the Woodrow Enriquez-led Talavera goes up against the CCC-CSD led by Jerry Jaca for the remaining final ticket.

The winners will then clash in a sudden-death championship on Sunday.

Mandaue maybe the strongest contender because of its three-guard offensive rotation of Singson, Demape and Villoria in addition to former UV Green Lancers power forward Rey Cantona, but the Talavera mainstays couldn’t be taken lightly because they are a mixture of youth and experience.

Enriquez is at the helm of Talavera’s title hunt alongside Jayford Rodriguez, Ariel Mepaña and Vernini Tangarorang to name a few.

However, out of the four semifinalists vying for the P75,000 grand prize, CCC-CSD of coach Boboy Cal is considered the darkhorse that is capable of springing a big surprise because its offensive arsenal is built mainly on commmercial veterans under the flagship of Jaca.

Romy Cal, the CCC-CSD team consultant, said they are ready to face the tough challenge. This is the biggest tournament they participated since the team was formed nearly three months ago.

The other members of CCC-CSD are former MBA cager Jan Montalbo, Roy Arnado, Jared Kane Abatayo, Raul Redulosa, Wilbert Sayson, Francis Mangyao and top gunner Aldrin Ocañada.

Cal said they will still beef up their roster with at least two big men and a legitimate point guard to bolster their chances of clinching the championship.

The CCC-CSD advanced into the semifinal with a perfect 3-0 record. GGM (THE FREEMAN)