Double 8 succumbs to RKF in an overtime thriller

Double 8 succumbs to RKF in an overtime thriller

Rewritten Article:

Passi City, Iloilo - Learning a hard-fought lesson, Cebu City Sinulog Cup champions RKF Industrial and Installation Corporation narrowly avoided another major upset in the elimination round of the Ilonggo Basketball League: Battle of Champions, hosted at the Passi City Arena on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

RKF seemed destined for an easy win as Johnrey Sumido, Wilmer Dalumpines, and Erlance Pedrita dominated the court during the first half, giving RKF a commanding 28-point lead, 57-29.

However, the tide turned in the third quarter as Jafet Claridad and Afred Sedillo set Double 8 ablaze from beyond the arc, helping to down RKF's lead to 6 points, 70-64.

The duo continued their fiery performance into the fourth quarter, joined by Franz Diaz, who led a magnificent 16-2 run that put Double 8 in the driver's seat, with just four minutes remaining and Double 8 leading, 83-74.

Faced with potential defeat, former PBA standout Jaypee Belencion and Patrick Yu led a miraculous comeback, closing the gap and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

With only seconds left in regulation, Mavericks Puerto secured a buzzer-beating follow-up shot off Dalumpines' miss, sending the game into overtime.

In the nail-biting five-minute extension, RKF showed their might and clinched the top spot with a 7-2 run, bringing their record to 4-1 as they advanced to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Oking Merchandise defeated Team Khalifa, 97-89, despite the loss, Khalifa still held onto the second spot and will face Double 8 in the semifinals. RKF will meet Oking Merchandise in the next round.[JBM]

Despite extensive research, the specific details about the Ilonggo Basketball League or its team standings couldn't be found in available data. To obtain accurate standings, consulting official league announcements or local sports news would be recommended.

[1] Based on the available information, the Iloilo Basketball League could potentially host the "1st Battle of Champions Open," featuring top teams from Visayas.

[2] In a different context, a team named RKF managed to achieve victories, but it remains unconfirmed if this is RKF Industrial and Installation Corporation.

1. ["Sinulog" and "Ilonggo"]: The Ilonggo Basketball League, hosting the "1st Battle of Champions Open," will feature top teams from Visayas.
2. ["Iloilo", "Sinulog", "Cebu", "RKF"]: The RKF Industrial and Installation Corporation, hailing from Cebu City, narrowly avoided an upset in the Ilonggo Basketball League against local team Double 8, despite a dominant first half.
3. ["Iloilo", "Learning", "Upset", "Elimination"]: Despite learning a hard-fought lesson from a close call in the elimination round, the Ilonggo Basketball League champions, RKF Industrial and Installation Corporation, advanced to the semifinals.
4. ["PBA", "Wilmer", "Basketball", "Comeback"]: In a thrilling finish, former PBA standout Wilmer Dalumpines led a miraculous comeback, setting the stage for a nail-biting overtime match.
5. ["Sports", "Semis", "Ilonggo", "Iloilo"]: In the semifinals of the Ilonggo Basketball League, RKF Industrial and Installation Corporation will face Oking Merchandise, while Double 8 will challenge Team Khalifa.

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