Jugan nails semis spot in Consolacion caging

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay Jugan pulled off an 86-85 cliffhanger over Nangka to clinch a semifinal berth in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) division of the 3rd Mayor Teresa "Nene" P. Alegado Fiesta Cup basketball tournament at the Consolacion Sports Complex.

Jugan gained outright entry into the next stage of the month-long cagefest for topping bracket B.

In the other SK division match, Tilhaong walked away with a close 68-65 win over Cabahangan to keep it’s title bid in motion.

In category A of the Inter-Barangay battle, Cabahagan bested Tugbongan, 74-70, Lamac toppled Poblacion Oriental, 78-67, while Poblacion Occidental staved off early elimination after it subdued Casili, 65-63, in their do-or-die match.

Nangka, on the other hand, fended off Tayud, 69-62, while Pulpogan downed Poblacion Occidental, 71-65.

In games under category B, Sacsac shackled Lanipga, 48-40, while Tolotolo dominated Panoypoy, 73-52.

A total of 21 barangays are seeing action in the event, which is among the highlights of Consolacion's annual fiesta celebration in honor of its beloved patron San Narciso on October 29.  

Seeing action under category A are barangays Polog, Panas, Panoypoy, Lanipga, Garing, Sacsac, Tilhaong, and Tolotolo. Comprising category B are barangays Poblacion Oriental, Poblacion Occidental, Cansaga, Pulpugan, Danlag, Casili, Tugbungan, Nangka, Pitogo, Lamac, Tayud, and Jugan.

The competition follows a double elimination for category A, while entries in category B will be pooled into two brackets. They will also play a double elimination with the top two teams advancing into the crossover semifinals. The tops seed will enjoy twice-to-beat incentives over the No.2 qualifiers in each bracket. The winners will then clash for the championship in a best-of-three series.

For the SK level, the participants will be bracketed into four. They will figure in a double elimination wherein the top two in each bracket will proceed into the quarterfinal round. The top qualifier will gain twice-to-beat edge. The winners will then barge into the knockout semis wherein the survivors will slug it out for the coveted title also in a race-to-2 affair.

The annual hardcourt joust is fully supported by Concolacion Mayor Teresa P. Alegado, Vice Mayor Rey Damole, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan.

The working committee is composed of sports chairman Boy Tibon assisted by Ben Ermac, ABC President Marilou P. Casul and SK Federation President Vito Rolito Villo as co-chairpersons. The games will be supervised by league commissioner Paul Alelu Q. Flores, a former star player of the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws during his UAAP days. (FREEMAN)