Blockout, Natica set up championship date in AEBC caging

Sports

AND then there were two.

After three rounds, only two teams are left standing as bracket leaders Blockout and Natica dispatched their respective semifinal opponents and arranged a championship match in the Architects and Engineers Basketball Club (AEBC) Buildrite Cup 2025 over the weekend at the University of San Carlos Downtown Campus Gym in Cebu City.

Bracket A top seed Blockout pulled off a tight 68-66 win over Handyfix Pro while Natica, the top-ranked team in Bracket B, also went through the wringer before edging Confix in overtime, 82-74.

The league will take a short break for the observance of Holy Week before Blockout and Natica clash in a winner-take-all match on April 11. Handyfix Pro and Confix will fight for the consolation third-place trophy.

Daniel Culanag and Paolo Munez powered Blockout’s crucial win by combining for 25 points and seven rebounds. Culanag also had four steals, an assist, and a block.

Ivan Deo fired a game-high 21 points to lead Handyfix Pro while Jonathan Sotes and Conrad Andrino added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Natica, on the other hand, extricated itself from a tight duel with Confix behind the hot hands of Philip Alegado and Dexsel Caadan, who erupted for 30 and 25 points, respectively.

Confix bowed out of title contention despite getting a combined 54 points from Dafydd Tallido, Juan Miguel Dela Torre, and Rex Cagulada.(CCM)