GOLDSTAR Hardware scored a major upset in its final game, dealing defending champion M. Lhuillier-Kwarta Padala of Cebu a stinging defeat in the Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Araw ng Dabaw Invitational basketball tournament.
Ronald Capati unloaded 35 points against his former team and Neil Raneses added 15 as Goldstar toppled the mighty M. Lhuillier, 91-85, before a highly appreciative Saturday crowd at the fully-airconditioned Davao City Recreation Center.
In the second game, Montaña Pawnshop beat Sanman Corporation, 95-76, to grab the solo lead in the five-team field with a 3-0 slate and needs only to beat M. Lhuillier in its final game to seal the crown.
It was another stunning win for the Goldstar dribblers, who opened the tournament with two straight defeats only to bounce back with a two-game win streak.
The loss jeopardized M. Lhuillier's bid to retain its title. It needs to beat Montaña in its final match to force a 3-1 slate and rely on the quotient system to eventually break the tie.
On Friday, Goldstar topped Sanman, 112-104, and its victory over M. Lhuillier gave the team a 2-2 card. M. Lhuillier is at second with 2-1.
Montaña was to shoot for the crown last night against the Cebuano dribblers starting at 7 p.m. following the 5 p.m. showdown between CM Farm and Sanman.
The champion in the tournament sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) 11 under Regino "Boy" Cua will receive P75,000 while the second and third placers will pocket P50,000 and P35, respectively.
The fourth placer will get P25,000 and fifth P10,000.
The teams that competed also got a bonus after Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte gave them P20,000 each just for participating in the event, one of the highlights of this year's Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 21, 2011.
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