Gullas Legacy Cup Talisay on doorstep of title

CEBU, Philippines — The Talisay City Aquastars hammered the Carcar City Lechoneros, 90-72, to draw first blood in the best-of-three championship series of the Samsam Gullas Cup 3.0 Cebu 1st District Legacy Cup Inter-Cities and Municipalities Basketball Tournament at the full-packed Talisay City Sports Complex on Tuesday night.

Fired up by the cheers of their hometown fans, the Aquastars dictated the tempo of the match from the get go, never looking back since taking an early 21-14 lead on the way to move a win away from clinching the coveted title that goes along with an P80,000 bounty.

Versatile playmaker Jay Deiparine bannered five Talisay players in double figures with 15 points, five rebounds, five steals and five assists leading to the wire-to-wire victory that kept them undefeated in seven games.

Keaton Clyde Taburnal chipped in 14 markers and passed out four assists but it was John Elmer Villabrille who emerged as Player of the Game for his breakout performance of 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Aquastars.

Ronan Briones also made his presence felt by unloading all of his 11 points in a furious second-quarter assault, 24-12, that sent Carcar wobbling the rest of the way. In that game-tearing run by Talisay, Michael Tabay Jr. dropped seven of his 12 points.

A buzzer-beating jumper by Deiparine to close the first half towed the Aquastars comfortably ahead by 19 points, 45-26.

The Aquastars were so dominant that they led by 24 points at one point, 82-58, midway in the final period. The visiting Carcaranons couldn’t get any closer than 16 points.

  Leonilo Martorillas paced Carcar with 21 points while Rey Joseph Alfeche and Wel Mark Quiapo finished with 30 combined points in a losing effort.

The Aquastars could practically wrap up the coveted crown with another victory but they must brace for an all-out way as the Lechoneros will host Game 2 tomorrow evening at the Carcar City Sports Complex.

Game 3, if necessary, swings back to Talisay on Saturday. EBV