THE POWERADE Tigers leaned on their unexpected offensive brilliance to claim the championship in the Cebu City Mayor’s Cup Invitational Games after they beat the Alaska Aces, 105-90, last Sunday night at the University of San Carlos gym.
The Tigers finished the tournament with a 2-1 (win-loss) record, the same as the hosts M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Niños. However, the Tigers hoisted the crown via the winner-over-the-other rule. They eked past the Niños, 64-63, last Saturday.
Powerade started the game like a house on fire as they led 30-18, which eventually ballooned to a high of 25, 79-54, at the midway point of the third canto.
They did this behind the streak shooting of Gary David and shock troopers Celino Cruz, Josh Vanlangdinham and Will Antonio.
The Aces did not give up without a fight as they rallied behind LA Tenorio, who scored 24 points. He helped his team climb to within just nine, 78-87.
But that was all she wrote for Alaska as Powerade responded with an 11-2 run that decided the game in their favor.
David paced the Tigers with 19 as four others scored in double-digits. Antonio, Cruz, Vanlangdinham and Doug Kramer chipped in 17, 16, 15 and 12 points, respectively. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio