Top caliber commercial players slug it out in Sinulog Cup hoop
Big time and highly entertaining hardcourt action returns to the Queen City of the South with the holding of the hotlyanticipated Sinulog Cup 2024 Basketball Tournament on January 23-27 at the Cebu City Sports Institute (CCSI) gym in Barangay Sawang Caler
Cebu City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros, league commissioner Atty. Jave Mike Aton, and Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI) Executive Director Elmer “Jojo” Labella led the event’s formal launching at the Mayor’s Office conference room in the City Hall yesterday.
A good mix of former collegiate standouts and exPBA cagers spread in six commercial ballclubs led by defending champion EGS of noted sports patron Wilson Bas Villanueva will strut their wares in the five-day tilt that offers over P300,000 in cash prize to the top performers.
Set to carry the title defense of EGS of coach Edsel Say Vallena are Jojo Tangkay, JC Escalona, Justine Dacalos, Mike Parilla, Joseph Cabahug Kevin Villafranca, James Ferraren, and King Orcullo among others.
EGS is in Bracket A together with Team Khalifa of Tacloban City in Leyte and United Negros Basketball League (UNBL) of Bacolod City.
Team Khalifa will be bannered by former CESAFI MVPs Jaybie Mantilla and Jiesel Tarossa, Dyl Roncal, Reeve Ugsang, Joel Lee Yu, Revrev Diputado, Matt Flores, Raymart Escobido, Julius Cadavis, and Barkley Eboña.
Slugging it out in Bracket B are the Chase Tower Runs of Chase Cokaliong, OCCCI-Ormoc Sheermasters, and Znars Jewerly owned by Al-asis Mayaman Macalandong of Marawi City, Lanao del Sur.
Aside from Hontiveros, the Paul Joven-mentored Chase Tower Runs will parade Shane Menina, Jerome Napao, Michael Gastador, Rendell Senining, Raymark Alcuno, Mac Racho, Fletcher Galvez, Froiland Mangubat, Mark Abadia, and Edrian Lao.
Not to be outdone, the OCCCI-Ormoc Sheermasters of coach John Carlo Sano will be fielding in a star-studded roster featuring Jancork Cabahug, Joshua De la Cerna, Ted Saga, Ivan Maata, Raul Gentallan, Bernie Bregondo, Jimpaul Amistoso, Jim Taala, Joshua Yerro, and Christian Bolaño.
Save for De la Cerna, Bregondo, and Taala, all of OCCCI’s top guns are champion players with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.
Znars Jewelry, under the guidance of multi-titled bench tactician Chelito Caro, is also a team to watch out having John Abad, Rino Berame, JR Quiñahan, Vincent Minguito, Gileant Delator, Tansiong Bonganciso, Lugie Cuyos, Manny Gabas, Melvin Butohan, and Jayson Balabag in their fold.
Also in the mix for the exciting battle ahead are the top two collegiate squads in the Sinulog Cup qualifying round that were still being determined as of this writing last night.
They will see action against the commercial teams in a single round robin, with the top two in each bracket advancing to the crossover semifinals. The winners will then figure in a sudden-death title clash.
The champion will take home P150,000. The first runner-up will pocket P100,000, while the third and fourth placers will receive P50,000 and P25,000, respectively.