Talisay reclaims Gullas Cup throne

Talisay unleashed a decisive endgame attack led by Kristian Alejandrino to dethrone its archnemesis Abante Minglanilla and become champions again in the Rhea Gullas Cup 2025 Cebu First District 21 Under Basketball Tournament last Tuesday night, September 23, at the full-packed Talisay City Sports Complex.

- EMMANUEL B. VILLARUEL Sports Editor

Alejandrino fired 20 points highlighted by a pivotal eight-point blitz in the final six minutes that became Talisay's turning point to a rousing 93-80 victory in the deciding match of their best-of-three finals.

Minglanilla was still in the thick of the fight with only a three-point deficit, 69-72, after Benedick Alforque sank a 3-pointer with still 6:26 left to play.

But Alejandrino suddenly waxed hot, dropping two consecutive bombs from beyond the arc before scoring on a beautiful layup that put the Talisaynons on top by a double-digit for the first time, 80-69, at the last five-minute mark.