Six teams barge into the quarterfinals of Aklan Governor's Cup

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - Six teams led by defending champion Numancia advanced to the quarterfinals at the close of the 15-team elimination round of the 2011 Aklan Inter-Municipalities Basketball Tournament.

Billed as Governor Carlito S. Marquez Basketball Cup, three top teams each from Eastern and Western groups moved closer to the tough semifinals after dominating the single round-robin elimination.

The basketball teams of Kalibo, Banga and Altavas kept the fire burning for the Eastern group while Ibajay, Tangalan and Numancia in the Western group also stayed in the hunt for the championship.

The towns of Batan, Balete, Madalag and Libacao (Eastern) and Lezo, Malinao, Makato, Nabas and Malay (Western), however, failed to advance to the second round.

The top six squads will be grouped together for another single round-robin quarterfinals. The teams will play each other to determine the top four teams who would play for the semifinals.

After the quarterfinals, the top two-ranked teams automatically earn the twice-to-beat advantage against the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the cross-over semis. The winners will clash in the best-of-three titular series.

Kalibo is scheduled to play against Altavas in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m. while Tangalan battles Banga at 3:30 p.m. at the start of quarterfinal matches on April 2 at the Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Sports Center.

To kick-off its title-repeat, defending champion Numancia will face off unpredictable Ibajay at 5 p.m.