MANILA, Philippines – RAIN or Shine and Converge both emerged victorious from the opening round of the Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament held at the University of Southeastern Philippines arena in Davao City on Thursday night, creating an exciting atmosphere for the competition.

After a furious overtime session, the FiberXers, driven by their powerful big man Justin Arana, narrowly defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters, winning 132-127 in the end. With a critical putback after Schonny Winston missed a free throw, Arana was instrumental in matching the score at 113 and forcing overtime. Arana demonstrated his skill once again in overtime, scoring six straight points to give Converge a commanding 119-113 lead. 

RAIN or Shine and Converge both emerged victorious from the opening round of the Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament held at the University of Southeastern Philippines arena in Davao City on Thursday night, creating an exciting atmosphere for the competition.

Conversely, the Phoenix Fuel Masters demonstrated their abilities by fielding import Jay McKinnis and their fourth-round rookie draft selection, Kai Ballungay. They gave several excellent performances and deserve recognition, but in the end, they were not able to defeat the tenacious FiberXers.

The Kadayawan Invitational event has already shown a strong degree of competition in its opening rounds, and as it moves forward, more thrilling encounters are sure to follow.

After a furious overtime session, the FiberXers, driven by their powerful big man Justin Arana, narrowly defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters, winning 132-127 in the end. With a critical putback after Schonny Winston missed a free throw, Arana was instrumental in matching the score at 113 and forcing overtime. Arana demonstrated his skill once again in overtime, scoring six straight points to give Converge a commanding 119-113 lead. 

Rain or Shine had to rely on Aaron Fuller and Andrei Caracut’s heroics in the closing stages of the game to defeat a strong La Salle squad. Fuller and Caracut scored back-to-back baskets to help the Elasto Painters overcome a three-point deficit and win by a slim margin of 106-105.

The last few seconds of the game were the most intense. Desperate to take the lead again, La Salle missed two vital chances to win the game with a basket. But Rain or Shine’s outstanding defensive performance led by Jhonard Clarito made sure that victory stayed just out of La Salle’s reach. In the closing seconds of the game, Clarito dramatic snatched the ball from Kevin Quiambao, the reigning UAAP MVP, after forcing him to miss a difficult layup. Clarito played a crucial part in the Elasto Painters’ victory, which was cemented by this brilliant defensive play.

A four-day event that unites sports, culture, and community, Davao City’s annual harvest festival includes the continuation of the Kadayawan Invitational basketball tournament. There will be more exciting basketball action on Friday during the festival, which is well-known for its lively atmosphere and joyful events. The match between Rain or Shine and Phoenix was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., and it should be an intriguing one. Later on, at 7 p.m., Converge played La Salle in what should be an intensely tough match.

Teams will keep showcasing their abilities and tenacity as the competition goes on, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the Kadayawan celebration. The occasion not only showcases the skill of the competing teams but also strengthens the Davao City community’s spirit of joy and togetherness. Both festival attendees and basketball enthusiasts are excited for this thrilling competition to continue, and there will definitely be more unforgettable moments to come.

What’s Kadayawan?

Every year, the Philippine city of Davao hosts the Kadayawan Festival. The festival honors life and expresses gratitude for the abundance of culture, the bounty of the harvest, the peace of existence, and the blessings of nature.

Mount Apo, durian, and the waling-waling orchid are the three emblems of Davao that inspired the festival’s original name, Apo Duwaling Festival.

Kadayawan Basketball Invitational 2024

Every year, the Kadayawan Basketball Invitational 2024 takes place in tandem with Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival, which honors the city’s abundant harvest, rich cultural legacy, and lively sense of community. The competition brings together the best basketball teams from different leagues.