Semifinal cast now complete in Lou Ornopia basketball tourney

CEBU, Philippines - The San Miguel cagers streaked past Bagtik, 74-67, to complete the semifinal cast in the 1st Lou Ornopia Basketball Tournament at the Calambua open court in San Remigio north of Cebu.

San Miguel, Bagtik and Ilihan actually finished the qualifying stage with identical 1-2 win-loss records but San Miguel claimed the No.2 spot by virtue of a higher tie-break output applying the Olympic quotient system. Batik and Ilihan took the third and fourth spots, respectively.

Team Olkaz-Calambua earlier topped the elimination round via three-game sweep, thus, earning a twice-to-beat advantage over the fourth-ranked Ilihan in the semifinals this Saturday. San Miguel and Bagtik will slug it out for the other final berth.

San Miguel toned down offensively after taking an early 24-15 lead, allowing Bagtik to wrest the upperhand, 54-50, going into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

San Miguel, however, staged a blistering 24-12 rally in the windup to turn the tables on Bagtik at the final buzzer.

The month-long tilt, which is among the highlights of Calambua's annual fiesta in honor of its beloved patron San Vicente Ferrer on April 13, offers close to P30,000 in cash prize to the top performing teams. The champion will pocket P10,000, while the second to fourth placers will take home P7,000, P5,000, and P3,000, respectively.

Supervised by commissioner Gumersindo Jubay, Jr., the games are being officiated by Rabbi Aranduga, Dondon Ferolino and Shonnel Patalinghug.

Presented by the entire barangay council of Calambua in partnership with MS Motosuit, the event is also supported by Bradder Moto Access, F&FO Motor Parts, Sanitec General Services, Speed-up Motor Parts, RMO Motor Parts, Prospeed, Motomaze, JCO Motor Parts, Keiz BJ Motors, Leizel Navarez, Diosdado Navarez, Anong Lumapas, Jerry Samarita, Vincent Golbe, and the families of Saludar, Ycot, Ornopia, Montealto, Armenion, Jubay, and De la Peña.

The scores

San Miguel (74) - Ruelo 18, Pantalleon 17, Zibo 14, Dabalos 7, Calvo 7, Dumanaoco 5, Soriano 4, Argawanon 2

Bagtik (67) - Cesa 22, Pepito 16, Migabon 13, Metoda 10, Canque 4, Tipdas 2 (FREEMAN)