Mighty Warriors and RKF-Iloilo Clinch Top Spots in Cebu City Charter Day Cup
The 2026 Cebu City Charter Day Cup elimination round concluded on Sunday, February 22, with the Mighty Warriors/Sherilin and RKF-Iloilo emerging as the dominant forces. Both teams secured perfect 3-0 records at the City Sports Institute gym, earning the top two seeds heading into the highly anticipated semifinals.
Mighty Warriors Edge Tiger Ship Builders in Nail-Biter
In a heart-stopping encounter, the Mighty Warriors narrowly defeated the Tiger Ship Builders with a final score of 82-80. The game remained tense until the final seconds, with the Ship Builders missing critical shots and committing turnovers that thwarted their comeback attempt.
Matt Flores led the Warriors' charge, delivering an impressive performance with 22 points and six rebounds. Raffy Celis contributed 15 points, including a crucial fadeaway jumper over defender Kent Ariar, while Joshua dela Cerna added 14 points to the tally.
For the Tiger Ship Builders, Jun Manzo scored 22 points, with Jaybie Mantilla and Paul Desiderio adding 15 and 13 points respectively. Despite their efforts, the team fell just short in the closing moments.
RKF-Iloilo Overcomes Kuya Eric's Late Surge
The second game saw RKF-Iloilo secure a hard-fought 95-91 victory over Kuya Eric. Arwind Santos, the former PBA star, was instrumental in the win, scoring 28 points—including five three-pointers—and grabbing six rebounds. His outstanding performance earned him the Best Player of the Game award for the second consecutive time.
RKF controlled the majority of the contest, but Kuya Eric mounted a fierce fourth-quarter rally. Back-to-back three-pointers by JR Quiñahan gave Kuya Eric an 83-78 lead, putting RKF on the back foot.
However, RKF responded swiftly with key contributions from Reinhard Jumamoy (13 points), JP Calvo (15 points), and Billy Robles (11 points), who sparked the comeback to seal the win. For Kuya Eric, Reeve Ugsang led with 18 points, supported by Jancork Cabahug with 15 points.
Semifinal Matchups Set for Thrilling Rematches
Despite their losses, both the Tiger Ship Builders and Kuya Eric advanced to the knockout semifinals. The semifinals will feature exciting rematches: the Ship Builders will face RKF-Iloilo, while the Mighty Warriors will take on Kuya Eric.
RKF, the reigning 2025 Sinulog Cup champion, enters as the favorite after previously defeating the Ship Builders convincingly. However, the Tigers are expected to regroup and aim for a Finals spot with renewed vigor.
The matchup between the Mighty Warriors and Kuya Eric promises equal excitement. In their first meeting last Friday, the Warriors stunned Kuya Eric with a 77-75 victory in a game that featured five lead changes, setting the stage for another thrilling encounter.
As the tournament progresses, fans can expect high-intensity basketball as these top teams battle for supremacy in the Cebu City Charter Day Cup.
