Balamban Fiesta Cup: Good Shepherd-Toledo City battles AC Troopers/Eversure Catmon for the crown

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The cast of the much-awaited championship of the Balamban Fiesta Cup 2023 Inter-Commercial Basketball Tournament is finally complete.

This was after Good Shepherd-Toledo City eked out a hard-earned win against Tuburan 360 Coffee, 90-85, on Tuesday evening, September 19, 2023, at the Exasperanza Binghay Memorial Sports Complex in Balamban, midwest Cebu.

Good Shepherd-Toledo will face the unbeaten and top-seeded AC Troopers/Eversure Catmon in the do-or-die championship showdown later tonight.

Joshua Dela Cerna put on another spectacular game after leading Good Shepherd with his double-double outing of 28 points with 17 rebounds, and two assists.

Jojo Tangkay was also instrumental in Good Shepherd’s huge win after contributing 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds, along with three assists, and two steals. Also, RJ Dinolan chipped in 12 markers for the winning squad.

Tuburan started hot like a steaming cup of coffee, after establishing a 13-point cushion, 35-22 in the first half.

However, Good Shepherd turned the tables in the second half after erasing their double-digit deficit and grabbing the lead, 48-47.

Both teams threw haymakers in the final period which resulted in five lead changes and four deadlocks.

However, after the final buzzer sounded, Toledo City emerged victor and is now a a win away from pocketing the P150,000 champion’s purse.

Despite the loss, Tuburan still has a chance to win the P50,000 third-place purse as they take on EGS Talisay City in the battle for third also going to happen later tonight against EGS Talisay City.  /rcg

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