Medellin, San Francisco prevail in Gov’s Cup double thriller

Medellin and San Francisco prevailed over separate foes in a double thriller that greeted the North division semifinals of the 2nd Cebu Governor’s Cup InterCities and Municipalities Under-21 Developmental Basketball Tournament last Tuesday night at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.

Gelmart Umpad may be the smallest man on the floor but stood the biggest in terms of fighting heart as he powered Medellin to a stunning 80-77 victory over the previously undefeated Consolacion Sarok Weavers.

Umpad, a former member of the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, dropped 17 of his game-high 23 points as Medellin courageously battled back from an 11-point deficit at the start of the fourth period on the way to upset the defending North division champions.

Trailing 53-64, Umpad either scored or created crucial plays for his teammates to help Medellin square the count at 70-all midway in the final stretch.

Umpad then hit goahead basket for Medellin off a steal 78-76 with 1:42 remaining in the game.

Compounding Consolacion’s woes was the unsportsmanlike foul slapped against Patrick Montaño with only 13.6 seconds left to play,Ace Arthur Despi and John Riel Booc only split their free throws but it was more than enough to wrap up the match for Medellin.

Umpad was heavily backed up by Fritz Saladaga, who unloaded 18 of his 22 points in the first half.

Montaño led Consolacion with 14 points while Emmanuel Villamor and Froiland Maglasang turned in 12 points each in a losing effort.

In a battle of the islanders, on the other hand, Kenny Rogers Rocacurva fired 14 of his 24 points in the windup to vault San Francisco to a nervewracking 86-82 triumph over the Bantayan Seamasters.

Rocacurva got huge support from Reynaldo Almacin Jr. with 17 markers and Reden Wenceslao with 10 points.

Robert Caratao and Samuel Escaran Jr. had 19 points each, Romeo Sumbi Jr. scored 15 and Renz Ortiz had 11 for Bantayan.