ARQ Builders emerge champs

CEBU, Philippines — The ARQ Builders/KSB Glass showed great team effort as they frustrated the previously unbeaten Kiboy’s Computer Solutions (KCS), 98-90, in their sudden-death final match to clinch the championship of the Mayor Edgardo C. Labella 1st Charter Cup Basketball Tournament last Wednesday night at the jampacked Cebu City Sports Institute gym.

Seven ARQ cagers cracked double figures led by Ferdinand Lusdoc with 25 points, three rebounds and two assists followed by Reed Juntilla with 16 points, three rebounds and five assists.

“I would like to dedicate our victory to my family especially to my wife Eva and my children Jarvis and Adaline who have been very supportive in all my sporting endeavors,” said ARQ Builders team owner Jason Arquisola. “They’re also my lucky charm. We were trailing in the game but when they arrived, we rallied and eventually grabbed the lead for good,” he added in slight jest.

ARQ Builders trailed by six in the early goings, 11-17, but countered with a blistering 26-13 rally to wrest the driver’s seat, 37-30, midway in the second period.

Overall, the wards of coach Chelito Caro outpointed KCS in the second canto, 33-19, to post a 54-42 edge at halftime.

The Builders did not let their guards down to maintain a comfortable 91-78 lead at the final six-minute mark of the contest.

“I just told my boys to toughen up their defense from the start until the end. And it worked to our advantage,” said Caro, who is also a member of the National University (NU) Bulldogs coaching staff in the UAAP. “Also, their will to win matters. They were really determined to grab the championship.”

The likes of Jerrick Cañada, Frank Nailon, Wylan Muñoz, Jojo Tangkay and Shaq Imperial also figured prominently in the ARQ Builders’ balanced attack.

Cañada cashed in 12 points laced with nine assists and four rebounds. Nailon also had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists, while Muñoz chipped in 11 markers and two steals. Tangkay and Imperial each scored 10 even as they also combined for 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals for the ARQ Builders who pocketed P150,000 for their feat.

Joshua dela Cerna and Vincent Minguito paced KCS with 23 points apiece. They got P100,000 for their runner-up finish.

In the battle for third place, Kevin Villafranca dished out 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists while Rodel Gravera added 14 points, 10 rebounds and two steals as Fighter 50 Wine survived ASPA, 68-66.