Cebu seeks bounce-back win but faces uphill battle vs Caloocan

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Greats will try to prevent another disappointment before their home fans as they take on the Victory Liner Caloocan Batang Kankaloo in the SportsPlus Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season 8 today (Saturday, July 18) at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game time is set for 8 p.m., right after the 5 p.m opening match between the Mindoro Tamaraws and Zamboanga Sikat.

The Greats suffered a heart-breaking 78-77 defeat at the hands of Biñan Tatak Gel two nights ago at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.

After squandering an eight-point lead in the final five minutes, the Greats had their chances to steal the game but Kint Ariar missed a crucial 3-pointer and later a wide open mid-range shot with 0.4 seconds left that spelled their doom.

Cebu fell to 14-4 after Biñan ended its seven-game winning streak.

“Natalo man kami pero nakakataba ng puso na makita na ganito ang suporta ng mga Cebuanos sa aming team,” said Cebu team owner Samson Lato. “Sana makabawi kami this Saturday. Malakas din ang kalaban pero pipilitin namin na makabawi.”

Jun Manzo, who topped Cebu’s scoring chart with 23 points albeit in a losing effort, shared the same sentiment.

“Hindi ito ang resulta na gusto namin, pero taos-puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa bawat taga-Cebu na sumuporta at nagbigay ng lakas sa amin. Hindi kami titigil na lumaban. Bawi ta, Cebu Greats!” Manzo wrote on his Facebook page.

The Greats face a tall order in their bid to get back on the right track as they battle against the Batang Kankaloo, the North Division leaders sporting a 15-2 record.

Caloocan, coming off a 111-90 rout of the Imus Yangkee last July 13, will bank on the likes of Kean Baclaan, Kymani Ladi, Eric Camson, Jeff Manday, Dominic Escobar, Jammer Jamito, Jhygruz Vence Laude, Paul Hendrix Casin, Irven Palencia, and Joseph Manlangit among others.

Aside from Manzo and Ariar, Cebu can also count on Mark Meneses, Simon Camacho, Dhon Reverente, Al Francis Tamsi, Bombom Tampus, Wowie Escocio, Dondon Hontiveros, JR Quiñahan, and Elmer Eccahez as they try to gift their loyal supporters a sweet home victory.