Eastside Cuts’ Gringo Deleon Guerrero sizes up his defender during a Michelob Ultra Cup 2025 game at the Ada gym.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
EASTSIDE Cuts (Elite Kuyas) and Akarri 1 secured their spots in the semifinals of Michelob Ultra Cup 2025 by eliminating their respective opponents at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Eastside Cuts rolled over Baller2, 93-69, to punch their ticket to the next round.
Eastside Cuts established their dominance early as Steve King set the tone with a stellar all-around performance, knocking down three triples and adding a pair of finishes at the rim. With support from Gringo Deleon Guerrero and Kenny Laquian, who combined for 11 points, the team surged to a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter, 24-10.
In the second period, Baller2 made key adjustments and leaned into their strengths, with Jerrico Pangelinan asserting himself in the paint while Jay Palmes and Henry Aguon stretched the floor with a pair of three-pointers.
However, Eastside’s scoring trio kept pace, matching Baller2’s output to preserve a comfortable 45-30 lead at halftime.
Baller2 continued to battle, with Pangelinan taking charge of the offense through aggressive drives to the basket. However, their efforts were marred by poor shooting, resulting in more misses than makes — opportunities that Eastside Cuts quickly turned into fastbreak points. Tony Kim and Jeffrey Yugummang joined the scoring effort with eight and six points, respectively, sealing the 93-69 victory.
Akarri 1 vs Akarri 2
In the second game of the day, Akarri 1 eliminated their sibling team Akarri 2, 103-80.
In the first half, both teams appeared evenly matched, trading baskets in a back-and-forth battle, with Akkari 1 clinging to a narrow 44-39 lead.
But in the second half, Akkari 2 began to unravel, committing several turnovers and forcing shots, with most of their points coming off rebounds and putbacks. Meanwhile, Akkari 1 found their rhythm and gradually pulled away, building a double-digit lead that paved the way for a smooth 103-80 victory.
Scores:
Eastside Cuts (Elite Kuyas) 93 – Gringo Deleon Guerrero 24, Steve King 20, Kenny Laquian 20, Jeffrey Yugummang 6, Christian Bravo 3, Tony Kim 9, JR Galang 2
Baller2 69 – Jerrico Pangelinan 34, Henry Aguon 22, Jay Palmes 9, Dion Lizama 4
