Cebu Movers clinch GAA cage crown in style

CEBU - The Cebu Movers System of playing coach Dr. Boy Te went through some scary moments before gunning down the gritty G & S International, 70-68, to claim the championship of the Guadalupe Athletic Association (GAA) 9th Founder’s Cup Basketball Tournament in historic fashion recently at the Guadalupe Sports Complex.

The Cebu Movers snatched the title via a 10-game sweep, a feat never achieved by any team in the past GAA seasons.

“I’m very happy this year because I scored a grandslam,” said an ecstatic Te, whose other teams Tubil Bar and Lite Shipping ruled the Powerball League and the 1st Vic Enterprises Invitational, respectively, two months ago both at the CEC Gym.

The top seeded Cebu Movers trailed most of the way and enjoyed their biggest lead at five points, 70-65, on a pair of crucial free throws by Edgar Labra with 16 seconds remaining in the game.

In the ensuing play, Greg Ladaran hit a booming triple off the glass to push G & S International within two, 68-70, with 10 ticks left before the final buzzer.

After Cebu Movers’ Bebot Alquisola flubbed his charities, G & S International had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Jumie Ararao botched his layup.

It was truly a heartbreaker for G & S International, which led by as much as 13 points, 24-11, at the start of the second period. But the Cebu Movers countered with a blistering 11-0 run en route to outscoring G & S International in that stretch, 22-8, to wrest the driver’s seat at the turn, 33-32.

The Cebu Movers, however, could not sustain their momentum and were still down by six, 47-53, after three quarters.

G & S was ahead for the last time at 64-63 on a William Jabines basket as Cebu Movers replied with a 7-1 run to regain the lead for good.

Key defensive stops by Bebot Ancot against Ararao also spelled big difference for Cebu Movers.

The other hero for the champion team was MVP awardee Vincent Reyes, who led the Movers with 17 points. Ancot scored 11, while Labra and Alquisola turned in 10 markers apiece.

Rex Miñoza topscored for the G & S Intl. with 14 points, while Ararao, a former CIT Wildkitten, chipped in 13. Ladaran and Jabines each had 12 points, while team owner Don Guillen finished with 11 points.

In the battle for third, AC Sports beat Team MELO, 99-93.

The scores

First game

AC Sports (99) - Escuyos 26, Cortes 24, Ebo 15, Rances 15, Monternel 9, Bacalla 6, Baba 2, Lumanas 2

Team MELO (93) - Ocampo 31, Gil 17, Armstrong 13, Barade 9, Mediano 8, Baclayon 6, Gelig 5, Mendoza 4

Second game

Cebu Movers (70) - Reyes 17, Ancot 11, Alquisola 10, Labra 10, Suzara 5, Elizalde 5, Labating 4, Leyson 2, Posadas 2

G & S (68) - Miñoza 14, Ararao 13, Jabines 12, Ladaran 12, Guillen 11, Matudan 3, Bacalla 2 Halftime: 33-32 (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)