Team GIGI edges All Friends to capture Jugan cage crown

CEBU, Philippines - Team GIGI weathered a spirited resistance by All Friends of playing team owner Paul Alelu Q. Flores all throughout the 40-minute skirmish to eke out a precarious 65-62 victory in their sudden-death final duel to claim the championship of the 3rd Annual Sr. San Vicente Open Basketball Tournament in Jugan, Consolacion.

The two protagonists engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle right from the opening buzzer. So close the game that it was decided only in the closing seconds by tough defense and lucky breaks that swung into GIGI’s side.

For its feat, Team GIGI took home P10,000, while All Friends pocketed P5,000.

Tagalog topscored for GIGI with 18 points, while commercial veteran Jerry Jaca and Jay-R Pepito pitched in 15 and 10 markers, respectively.

Alelu Flores, a former star of FEU Tamaraws during his UAAP days and nephew of Taguig Batang Global coach Bert Flores in Liga Pilipinas, posted a team-high tying 16 points for All Friends. Ex-commercial mainstay Fritz Villamor also had 16 points followed by man mountain Bonel Balingit with 10 markers in a losing cause.

Supervised by league commissioner Ulpiano “Ulping” Cabahug, Jr., the tournament was again a huge success through the all-out support of the Jugan Barangay Council under the flagship of Brgy. Captain Diosdada Gielczyk in cooperation with barangay councilors Boboy Pepito, Dado Ygot, Tony Pepito, and Josie Cabahug.

The scores

GIGI (65) - Tagalog 18, Jaca 15, Pepito 10, Hatague 6, Tarona 5, Toong 5, Cañete 2, Baribe 2, Pepito 2

All Friends (62) - Flores 16, Villamor 16, Balingit 10, Cortes 8, Malagar 5, Dahil 5, Linao 2—EBV   (THE FREEMAN)