MAYOR KIRK ASIS OPEN INVITATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ARQ Construction-Adamson to lean on ‘Baby Boy’ Ced

TheMindanaoToday.com | MAYOR KIRK ASIS OPEN INVITATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ARQ Construction-Adamson to lean on ‘Baby Boy’ Ced

By: Jack Biantan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – ARQ Construction-Adamson University Falcons will lean on Ced ‘Baby Face’ Manzano when they take on four other collegiate teams from the Big City as they defend their title starting June 26 in the 2025 Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Basketball tournament here in Bayugan City.

All basketball roads lead to this prosperous mountain and flower city of Agusan del Sur province, with ARQ Builders- Adamson University looking to defend their title here at the Lope Asis Memorial gym at the heart of Bayugan City.

The Falcons will face tough competition from Weng Burs Apartelle-University of Sto. Thomas, Vincare Pharma-Jose Rizal University Bombers, Bustamante Construction-Letran Knights, and Mair Construction and General Merchandise-Far Eastern University.

The event is hosted by Bayugan City government under Mayor Kirk Asis as part of the city’s 18th Charter Day and 3rd Bayug Festival celebrations.

It will be the third time the 6ft4 lefty from Iloilo Province, Cedrick Manzano, to compete here in Bayugan and might be his last. The coming UAAP season will be his last.

He has to prove himself in his last hurrah before he starts his last UAAP season so that he can carve his name into the annals of the rich basketball history of Bayugan.

He has proven many times in many local and invitational tournaments that he is a force in the middle for the Soaring Falcons. In 2023 the Falcons best player was Jerome Lastimosa, who is now playing for Purefoods in the PBA.

Lastimosa injured his knee during the Bayugan tournament in 2023 and then missed his last UAAP season to have an operation.

However, without Lastimosa last year, the Soaring Falcons managed to bring home the title with Manzano leading them by beating Weng Burs Apartelle-San Beda Lions in the championship. Will Manzano show his ‘Baby Face’ again to lead the Falcons?

All five Metro Manila-based teams are using the tournament as part of their preparations for the coming UAAP and NCAA seasons.

“Part of our preparations is to play in pre-season tournaments. So, maraming kaming mga sinalihan ngayon in the last two to three months to better prepare us for the Bayugan tournament,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela.

“Just like what we always say, we will do our best. We will try to give our opponents a good fight. That’s the only thing we could do, and I really promise.”

Manzano and the Adamson Soaring Falcons figured in three straight UAAP Final Four Playoffs, winning over De La Salle University Green Archers and the University of the East Warriors.

All teams are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, June 25, evening in time for the press conference and presentation of teams. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)

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