Reyes, Ricaña lift GAA All-Stars past Mandaue Jaycees

CEBU - Inting Reyes and Allan Ricaña hit clutch baskets in the closing seconds of the match to lift the Guadalupe Athletics Association All-Stars to a 62-57 drubbing of the Mandaue Jaycees in the GAA All-Star games last Sunday at the Guadalupe Sports Complex.

Reyes converted a courageous drive off a nifty assist by Joselito Ocampo and then Ricaña calmly sank two frebbies in the final eight seconds to ice GAA’s victory.

The Mandaue Jaycees was down by just a hairline, 57-58, on Rhett Latonio’s basket with 42 seconds left to play, but Reyes and Ricaña came to GAA’s rescue by presiding over a game-clinching four-point swing.

Reyes finished with 12 points to romp off with the MVP award. Serge Cortes added 10 points and  Ricaña donated six for the GAA ALL-Stars of playing coach Boy Te, which blew away a huge 33-20 lead at halftime before turning to the endgame heroics of Reyes and Ricaña.

Edgar Colina paced the Mandaue Jaycees with 18 points while Latonio, a former UC pointguard and son of USPF Panthers coach Raul Latonio, finished with 11 points.

In the preliminary games of the event that served among the highlights of the annual fiesta of Guadalupe on December 12, the Dark shaded the Light in the 50-above category, 62-52, with Freddie Torrepalma bagging the MVP trophy, while former commercial standout Rey Potot emerged the MVP as North triumphed over South 75-67.

Earlier, ex-SWU Cobra Alvin Plaudin scored 21 points to rule the 3-point shootout.

The scores

GAA All-Stars (62) —  Reyes 12, Cortes 10, Ocampo 8, Ararao 7, Ricaña 6, Barrios 6, Celestial 4, Sasing 2, Dula 2, Cabradilla 2, Escuyos 2

Mandaue Jaycees (57) — Colina 18, R. Latonio 11, Margallo 10, Latonio 7, Balbuena 1 Halftime: 33-20. – GGM (THE FREEMAN)