CEBU, Philippines — The EGS-Solid North kick-started its campaign on a high note, pulling off back-to-back victories in the 1st Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament 2025 over the weekend at the Cebu City Sports Insitute (CCSI) Gym in Barangay Sawang Calero.
Last Saturday night, EGS suffered a huge endgame collapse but hung on and came through with a thrilling 79-76 win over Team Khalifa of Tacloban City.
Powered by the Abra Weavers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), EGS surged ahead by 18 points, 63-45, and still enjoyed a huge 77-63 advantage midway in the final period but Khalifa launched a sizzling 11-0 rally to come threateningly close, 74-77, in the dying seconds.
EGS though played cool under heavy pressure to preserve a three-point victory.
Kasius Small-Martin paced EGS with 17 points and five assists. Encho Serrano and Jack Cruz-Dumont added 12 points apiece while John Uduba chipped in with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Jaybie Mantilla and Jancork Cabahug dropped 18 points each while Elmer Echavez tallied 10 markers but fell short in the end for Khalifa.
It was a completely different story for EGS during its second game on Sunday morning as it blasted RKF Iloilo, 86-65.
This time, Uduba showed the way with 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals for EGS, which used a devastating 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to put the game to bed with in insurmountable 23-point lead, 79-56.
EGS now holds a 2-0 record while RKF fell to 1-1.
Before getting ripped by EGS, RKF trounced Stampede/Metro Cars, 90-77.
Jeckster Apinan led five RKF players in twin digits with 16 points. Wilmer Dalumpines and Raffy Arguelles combined for 29 points while Jaypee Belencion and Cedrick Manzano netted an identical 12 points
Likewise, Fiesta Gas of San Carlos City produced a balanced offensive performance in a 103-87 rout of Lymar Ballers.
Five Fiesta Gas cagers cracked double figures bannered by Ming Minguito and Jonel Bonganciso with 15 points each.They were ably backed up by Gab Cometa, Steve Castro and Jiesel Tarrosa who connived for 37 points in their 16-point romp of Lymar.