Carmen wins Durano Cup

CEBU, Philippines — After almost a decade of waiting, Carmen is finally a champion at the 9th Cong. Red Durano Cup Under 18 Basketball Tournament after toppling San Francisco, 65-48, over the weekend at the Danao City Civic Center.

Proving that being the top seed at the end of the classification phase was no fluke, the Amazing Carmen side of coach Ronnie Mata overcame a slow start and used the second and third periods to settle the game early.

San Francisco started out hot, taking a 13-9 lead at the end of the first period. Carmen then made their move midway through the second period to get things going.

Down 15-19, Carmen went on a 17-4 run to take a 32-23 halftime lead behind a full-court press and the combined efforts of John Fitz Banzon, Kenneth Watin and Axle Pasaol.

San Fran slashed the lead to five, 36-31, before Carmen went on another run to frustrate the boys of coach Christian Liaz. Carmen made four triples, three from Watin and one from Stephen Bejoc in a 14-5 run for a commanding 50-36 lead at the end of the third period. Banzon also added four points on his way to a game-high 24.

Banzon’s eight fourth period points and another Watin triple highlighted Carmen’s domination as it enjoyed its highest lead at 65-45, putting the game out of reach. As Banzon led Carmen with 24, Watin was good for 15 points, thanks to five triples that had the Carmen crowd wild.

Rovit James Alburo was the lone factor for San Francisco as he made 16 points. No other San Fran player registered a double-digit output.

Carmen won the cash prize of P50,0000, while San Fran settled for P30,000.

In the game for third place, Danao crushed Compostela, 95-47, to earn P20,000 while the latter won P10,000.

Banzon was named MVP of the tournament and was joined in the Mythical Five by teammates Watin and Eddie Jayson, Alburo (San Fran) and Benedict Oliver of Danao.

Cong. Red Durano was on hand to present the trophies and cash prizes to the winning teams, along with Alecks de la Torre, Durano’s consultant for sports in the fifth district.

The 9th Cong. Red Durano Cup is the annual basketball tournament for Under 18 players involving the eleven towns of the fifth congressional district: Liloan, Compostela, Danao, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Borbon, San Francisco, Poro, Tudela and Poro.

Games were played in all towns in a modified home-and-away scheme. Among the tournament’s most renowned products include Paul Desiderio (Liloan), Eliud Poligrates (Poro), Kenny Rogers Rocacurva (San Francisco), Allen Dimco (Carmen) and a host of others.