South Div. finals starts tonight
The battle for the one team to represent each division in the Gov. Cup Basketball Tournament will start today with Minglanilla hosting Dalaguete AgriSaurs for the South Division Finals Game 1 at the Minglanilla Sports Complex starting at 7 p.m.
Aside from the reputation as heavy favorites, Minglanilla also enjoys the homecourt advantage and support from the crowd.
However, the AgriSaurs made it as far as the Division Finals because of determination and heart to win and resiliency.
Coach Aldrin Barola converted the AgriSaurs from being the underdogs into a team that is consistent in all departments of the game.
In fact, Dalaguete defeated the other favorites Talisay Aqua Stars and Toledo City Energy for the second seat to the Finals because of the AgriSaurs relentless brand of basketball that earned them respect, especially from Minglanilla.
Minglanilla defeated Dalaguete, 80-67, in their quarterfinal round meeting last June 4. It was AgriSaurs' second time to lose in the tournament.
Unfortunately for the AgriSaurs, they were playing without its head coach to guide them through the aggressive games of Minglanilla.
Minglanilla's four-cornered offensives led by its team captain Jiesel Tarrosa will need to work in order to allow Marc Glen Nebril, his younger brother Mark Justin Nebril and lanky center Jan Joshen Mangaron to get their offense going.
However, Minglanilla coach Edito Salacut will need more than four players to beat Dalaguete.
He needs to rally his bench players to help deliver the goods in both offense and defense and stop the huge productions of Erick Sangoyo, Earl Justine Balbuena, Von Villahermosa, John Mark pagula and Frederick John Selerio from wreaking havoc for Dalaguete.
On Saturday, the North Division Finals will be at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex with Mandaue City hosting Consolacion Sarok Weavers for Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Good news for Mandaue, its team captain Jancork Cabahug is back in harness and is expected to play with vengeance as he was sideline since June 5 because of a thigh injury.