Team Samsam Gullas wins Emil’s Cup basketball title

CEBU, Philippines -  The formidable Samsam Gullas squad lived up to its lofty billing after it outlasted Abrenica Engineering, 94-86, in their sudden-death final match to clinch the championship of the 8th Emil's Fresh Chicken Fiesta Cup open basketball tournament the other night at the Lipata Sports Complex in Barangay Linao, Minglanilla, Cebu.

Ferdinand Lusdoc came up with a scintillating 30-point show to romp off with the MVP award, but it was Eliud Poligrates, a PBA veteran of four teams, who knocked in the crucial hits that provided Samsam Gullas the needed lifeline in the face of a spirited endgame comeback by the gritty Abrenica Engineering.

With Lusdoc's shots clicking on all angles, Team Samsam Gullas stormed its way to an almost insurmountable 22-point lead, 68-46, with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Just when the multitude of fans thought that Samsam Gullas was headed to a lopsided victory, Abrenica Engineering surprised everyone by staging a courageous fightback behind the efforts of John Villaver, Landry Sanjo and Wowie Escosio to pull within striking range, 81-86, with a little over two minutes left to play.

It was then that Poligrates, a former collegiate star from Poro, Camotes Island, played the fireman's role, drilling in two consecutive crucial 3-pointers to bail Samsam Gullas out of danger.

Poligrates finished with 12 points, while Reed Friar Juntilla chipped in 13 markers for Samsam Gullas of coach Van Halen Parmis, who further cemented his status as one of the winningest commercial coaches in the Vis-Min region with his 41st title in pocket tournaments he figured in for the past eight years interestingly with Poligrates as one of his vital cogs. It was their first title though in a Cebu tilt.

"We're very happy that we went all the way to win the championship. We dedicate our victory to Boss Samsam (Gullas) because if not for his all-out support to the team, we would not have achieved this feat. It was truly a mission accomplished for us because we also delivered what we promised to the fans, an intense and highly entertaining hardcourt action," said coach Parmis.

After completing a six-game sweep, team owner and Cebu First District Rep. Gerald Anthony 'Samsam' Gullas, Jr. was on hand to receive the trophy and the P110,000 champion's purse. Abrenica Engineering took home P50,000.

The RMA Logistics received P30,000 for placing third after edging out SG-ARQ Builders, 97-93.

The scores

For third

RMA  Logistics (97) —  Luga 24, Gahi 23, Melano 20, Escalona 10, Dajalos 8, Octobre 8, Ferraren 2, Saga 2

SG-ARQ Builders (93) – Tangkay 45, Getubig 14, Berame 10, Isidro 9, Cainglet 5, Nailon 4, Aying 4, Sereno 2

Championship

Samsan Gullas (94) — Lusdoc 30, Juntilla 13, Poligrates 12, Apinan 10, Heruela 9, Padilla 8, Akomo 8, Najorda 3, Thiele 1

Abrenica Engineering (86) — Sanjo 16, Escosio 12, J. Villaver 12, Gerilla 10, Daa 10, Lao 6, Belande 5, Alcaraz 4, Cincoflores 3, Calo 3, Silva 3, Abad 2. —EBV (FREEMAN)