Minglanilla advances to finals, Carcar gains lifeline

CEBU, Philippines — Abante Minglanilla advanced to the finals without any glitch while Sidlak Carcar lived and fight for another day in the Rhea Gullas Cup 2024 First District of Cebu Inter-City/Municipality Sports Festival on Saturday night, March 2, at the Minglanilla Sports Complex.

Minglanilla went cold after a hot start but managed to grind out a 62-59 win over the gritty Naga Atong Garbo in the Final Four.

Minglanilla surged to a double-digit lead, 26-16, but Naga staged a daring fightback to wipe out the deficit and even took a three-point edge, 37-34, early in the third period.

After Minglanilla regained the upperhand, 40-39, a see-saw battle ensued resulting to five lead changes and seven deadlocks.

The tide of the match decisively swung in favor of Minglanilla when Zeke Uriah Gilbuena made a crucial steal and then sank a jumper that gave the host team a three-point breather in the dying seconds.

Gilbuena topscored with 13 points, five rebounds, one assist and three steals while JC Rex Sanguenza and Christian Andrew Amaba combined for 23 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists for Minglanilla, which will have to wait first for its opponent in the championship round.

This as Carcar forged a rubber match after stunning the twice-to-beat Talisay Askyon Agad, 83-77.

Jethro Sagolili paced Carcar 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals, while Julius Tipon registered the tournament s first triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists laced with five steals in a spectacular all-around show.

Three other Carcar players cracked double figures in a balanced attack that downed the favored Talisay side.

Patrick Simon Ulbenario finished with a double-double of 17 markers and 12 boards, Reniel Georpo added 15 points and four rebounds, while Adrian Cabalida contributed 10 points for Carcar.