Kia Motors soar
Slowly yet surely, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats are rising up the rungs in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI). This, after the Kia Motors-backed Wildcats defeated the Lion Tiger Aerosol-University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 98-91, in the 6th Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
With a lineup that is slowly shaping up to be a formidable armada, the Wildcats displayed uncanny resiliency and resolve, not to mention dead-eye shooting from the outside to beat the erstwhile second placers in this tournament.
Lefty guard Franklin Batiquin sizzled when the pressure was on as he tallied seven straight points in the final two minutes of the match that padded their lead after it was sliced down to just three, 85-82.
Early on, Kia Motors was playing catch-up to Lion Tiger after the latter led, 24-22, after the opening canto behind the sniping of Jayson Olbedado, who tallied 17 points in that stretch. USJ-R continued to lead, 49-44, at halftime but were felled by CIT-U in the third as John Graf caught fire from the outside and made 11 markers, including three treys that put them in front, 71-70.
Kia Motors though, would surge ahead, 83-74, as Jeffrey Taghoy sank two straight-away three-pointers in a 10- 0 run. Lion Tiger battled right back and came within three behind Miguel Tabaloc who repeatedly punctured Kia Motors’ defense with slashing forays to the hoop.
Batiquin then nipped that uprising in the bud as he made two fastbreak lay-ups and then a booming three from the corner that put CIT-U up by 10, 92-82, with 1:29 remaining. Later, USJ-R came within five, 89-94, and had several chances to come even closer but missed several free-throws that doomed their fate.
Taghoy led Kia Motors with 16 points even as Batiquin finished with 15 markers. Graf added 13 for the Wildcats which tied their victims in the standings with identical 3-2 records.
Lion Tiger got 21 from Olbedado.
