In a thrilling opening match of the 2025 Cebu City Christmas League basketball tournament, the powerhouse Chase Tower Runs (CTR) narrowly escaped an upset, defeating the young but gritty Richie Boy (RB) Ballers, 63–59, at the City Sports Institute on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Veteran Composure Trumps Youthful Energy
Entering the contest as heavy underdogs, coach Gary Cortes's Richie Boy Ballers—a squad composed of top varsity talents from Cebu—defied expectations and pushed the title favorites to the limit. CTR, mentored by coach Paul Joven, seemed to be in control for much of the game, even building a commanding 13-point lead at 48–35 after a layup by veteran Emman Calo with 5:30 left in the third quarter.
However, the young Ballers refused to back down. Sparked by two three-pointers from AJ Sacayan, they unleashed a stunning 14–4 run to claw their way back, trailing by just three points, 52-49, as the game entered the final period.
Late-Game Drama and a Veteran Response
The tension reached its peak when Richie Boy completed their comeback, seizing a 57–56 lead behind the efforts of Sacayan, Charles Libatog, Christian Alilin, and Marchie Sabanto with 6:19 remaining on the clock. Faced with the prospect of an opening-game loss, CTR coach Paul Joven was forced to reshuffle his lineup, turning to his most experienced players to steady the ship.
The move paid off. Relying on poise and big-game experience, Emman Calo led the charge and received crucial support from MPBL stalwarts Roger Rocacurva and Jun Manzo, as well as former PBA mainstay William McAloney. This veteran core executed down the stretch to reclaim the lead and secure the hard-fought victory, keeping CTR's campaign on track.
Calo finished as the game's lone double-digit scorer with 14 points for CTR. The loss dropped the Richie Boy Ballers to an 0-2 record in the tournament, having also suffered a defeat to Blancas earlier.
Blancas Golden Knights March Towards Finals
In another exciting matchup, the visiting Blancas Golden Knights from Davao bolstered their finals bid with an 86–79 victory over the star-studded Welec squad. The win improved the Golden Knights' record to a perfect 2–0 in the four-day competition, while Welec fell to 1-1.
Welec mounted a late rally, cutting a nine-point deficit to just two, 79-81, with 1:55 left after a surge led by Jammer Jamito and Reinhard Jumamoy. However, Steve Nash Enriquez sank a critical three-pointer and Michael Kent Salado added a two-point basket to seal the win for Blancas.
Chris Catarong led Blancas with 16 points and four steals, while Salado contributed 10 points and four rebounds. For Welec, Jamito top-scored with 22 points, with Jumamoy, Gabriel Cometa, and Cedric Ablaza each adding 11. Jonathan Moses Manalili was limited to seven points due to a minor injury.
