CEBU, Philippines - Lai Garden of playing coach Dr. Boy Te rallied to an 84-77 victory over Aqua Serv of team owner Botskie Aniñon to clinch the title of the 9th Guadalupe Athletic Association (GAA) Founder’s Cup basketball tournament at the Guadalupe Sports Complex.
Chito Hernandez was unstoppable at the paint, but the biggest basket of the game came from Vincent “Inting” Reyes, whose triple in the final 1:13 mark of the contest extinguished Aqua Serv’s hopes of completing what would have been a great comeback.
Reyes, who was named as player of the conference, paced Lai Garden with 18 points, while MVP awardee Allan Ricaña added 13 points. Melvin Jimenez scored 14 points followed by Hernandez with 12 and Edgar Labra with 11.
It was Te’s second GAA crown this year. The first one he achieved with the Cebu Movers System.
Earlier, Joselito Ocampo charted 18 points as the Triple R Triple E nipped J-Art, 73-63, to settle for third place honors.
The scores
For third
Triple R Triple E (73) - Ocampo 18, Lopez 13, Gabutan 10, Pacaña 10, Rama 6, Fernandez 5, Tablada 4, Paran 1
J-Art (63) -Noel 21, Gabunada 14, Gabucan 11, Alesna 8, Delda 7, Condes 2
Championship
Lai Garden (84) - Reyes 18, Jimenez 14, Ricaña 13, Hernandez 12, Labra 11, Cuizon 6, Monternel 5, Te 4, Lesmes 2, Bacalla 2
Aqua Serv (77) - Cainglet 20, B. Miñoza 18, Miñoza 9, Fernandez 8, Lebenza 5, Warbol 5, B. Aniñon 5, Edpaj 4
Halftime: 45-40 (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)