BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur ― Be warned, the UAAP and NCAA basketball men’s top guns.
All five Manila-based teams that competed here for development and solid exposure showed their readiness to vie strongly for the titles ahead in next season’s keenly-awaited collegiate war.
Talent-wise, no one was probably left behind in convincing the Visayan-speaking crowd as the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran University Knights were able to prove and sundry that they have what it takes or something special in their respective armories to outshine each other and entertain the local fans.
However, after the smoke of battle cleared in the four-day Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Tournament 2025 concluded on Sunday night, June 29, at the Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium, the ARQ Builders-backed Soaring Falcons of coach Nash Racela emerged as back-to-back champions at the expense of their elimination round conqueror, UST.
“Coach Racela’s feat in Bayugan is a welcome development labi na sa mga bisaya sama kanamo nga iyang palangga,” said Marco Arbole, his former disciple with San Beda from Cagayan de Oro City.
The Soaring Falcons’ nail-biting 86-84 overtime win over the Growling Tigers/WengBurs Apartelle of coach Pido Jarencio made them the first back-to-back winners here, since Bayugan City has passionately embraced promoting the inter-collegiate tourney before the basketball-loving Mindanaoans right after the pandemic.
The UAAP Season 87 champion UP Fighting Maroons and runner-up De La Salle University have yet to play here, as well as the NCAA Season 100’s top-two men’s squads, Mapua Cardinals and College of St. Benilde Blazers.
“Invitational events like this would toughen each team’s preparation for the next UAAP and NCAA seasons. This is greatly beneficial for us and we’re grateful to Bayugan City Mayor Kirk Asis, organizer Van Halen Parmis, and tournament director Kim Lope Asis II for giving us another opportunity to play here,” Racela told reporters.
“We’re so happy for this championship win. Nagbalik ang chemistry at kumpyansa naka-recover kami as a team. Kasi, before this one in Leyte, parang hindi marunong maglaro ang Adamson ng basketball, winless kami in four outings. Parang hindi na nga kami ma-imbita ulit sa Leyte,” further said Racela in half jest.
The Growling Tigers, who suffered their only loss in the elimination round at the hands of the Jonathan ‘Titing’ Manalili-skippered Letran Knights/Bustamante Construction of coach Allen Ricardo, were slightly favored to dominate again the Soaring Falcons, whom they battered earlier, 71-59.
But despite bringing along with them a pair of African centers in Peter Osang and Avol Kumbai, the Tigers were surprisingly out-rebounded this time around, 41-52.
Worse, the Tigers’ one-two combo of Gelo Crisostomo and Nic Cabañero has committed crucial turnovers one after the other, thus allowing the Falcons to hang on and exact revenge in overtime play.
Adamson guard Monte Montebon, who managed just two in their first encounter, sizzled for 15 points; the same output as Racela’s fresh recruit from Dumaguete City, Matty Erolon, as veteran Ceddy Manzano and small forward Anabu Manu came up with 18 and 12 points each for Adamson’s successful title-retention bid.
Fortsky Padrigao led UST with 18 points, as Kyle Paranada, Osang, Mark Llemit, and Crisostomo chipped in 14, 12, 11, and 10 markers apiece.
In the fight for third place, the youthful all-Filipino JRU Heavy Bombers/Vincare Pharma of coach Nani Epondulan were close to upstaging the FEU Tamaraws/MAIR Construction and General Merchandise of coach Sean Chambers after taking a two-point lead in the regulation’s dying seconds.
But FEU’s licensed shooter Jorick Kyle Bautista picked a foul while desperately trying to make a shot from midcourt with time ticking away.
He sank two of three from the line to send the game to overtime, where Bautista, Mohammed Konateh, Mc Kirby Moncopa, and Jedrece Dennes Paa made a complete turn-around for FEU’s nightmarish escape, 84-82.
The Adamsons went home P300,000 richer, plus the championship trophy. UST received P200,000, FEU got P150,000, and the razzle-dazzle JRU, the only squad without an import, pocketed P100,000.
The Letran Knights settled for the fifth prize of P75,000, also with a trophy, in this annual tourney, serving as the main attraction of the city’s 18th Charter Day and 3rd Bayug Festival celebrations.
