Naga pulls off shocker, takes down defending champ Minglanilla in Gullas Cup

Sports

NAGA Atong Garbo hacked out a giant upset when it took out defending champion Abante Minglanilla, 66-64, and clinched a Final 4 seat in the Rhea Gullas Cup 2025 First District Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night, September 9, at the Enan Chiong Sports Complex in City of Naga, southern Cebu.

Naga sealed the shocker of a win by building a 33-22 lead in the second quarter. Wobbed by its opponent’s surprising start, Minglanilla displayed its championship caliber and managed to surge ahead in the final 4:47 of the match, 58-56.

Naga, however, didn’t panic as Riche Sarmiento II and Reche Navales connived in a 5-0 run that put them back in front, 61-58.

Minglanilla would threaten again when it moved within 60-61, but Naga shut the door on them when Sarmiento made two free throws followed by a layup by Niño Denver Waskin that made it 65-60 with only 1:25 left.

Navales collected 14 points, four assists, four steals, and three rebounds, Sarmiento finished with 10 points, three steals, two rebounds, and an assist as Naga ended the eliminations with two wins and three losses.

Minglanilla didn’t have a single player scoring in double figures as it fell to 3-2 (win-loss).

Leading the Final 4 cast is Talisay Aksyon Agad, which completed a 5-0 sweep in the eliminations by trouncing Blissful Sibonga, 100-69.

Joining Talisay, Minglanilla, and Naga in the Final 4 is Carcar.(CCM)