Games on Tuesday, August 13 (Davao City Recreation Center)
5 p.m. – DLSU vs. UV
6:30 p.m. – NU vs. SWC
Davao City – Title-favorites De La Salle Green Archers and the Southwestern University Phinma Cobras stole the limelight by winning over respective foes, Sunday at the start of the 34th Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center (Almendras gym).
The De La Salle Green Archers, last year’s Kadayawan champion outplayed the National University Bulldogs, 86-72 for its first win in the tournament presented by the City Government of Davao, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Matina Enclaves and the SBP-XI chapter.
After an erratic start, 38-42 at the half, the Green Archers rallied behind Andrei Caracut and Justin Baltazar to outscore the Bulldogs on a 12-4 run to grab the lead, 67-59 in the third canto and never looked back.
The Bulldogs tried to bounce back in the fourth on a 6-2 run for a 63-69 cut anchored by brothers Shawn and Dave Ildefonso but foiled its chances due to several turnovers down the stretch.
Caracut and Baltazar led the Green Archers with 19 and 14 points, respectively while Shawn Ildefonso finished with 18 and Dave with 12 on a losing effort.
The Southwestern University Phinma Cobras, currently the CESAFI 2019 champs still had their winning momentum at their side when they bested the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 72-65 in the other match-up.
CESAFI 2019 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lamine Thiam came up big with 19 points backed by Red Cachuela’s 11 markers to lead the Cobras.
Sheldon Gahi led the Green Lancers with 17 points.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go along with Atty, Mans Carpio, Presidential Adviser on Sports and SBP-XI Director Glen Escandor and SBP-XI Regional Commissioner Atty. Francis Calatrava welcomed the participating teams in grand rites highlighting the traditional ceremonial tip off.
This year’s champion team will be receiving P100,000 while the first runner-up will get P60,000. The second and third runners-up will bring home P40,000 and P30,000, respectively.
The best coach and most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament will be receiving P5,000 each.
