THE REIGNING champions University of Cebu Webmasters did another escape act as they squeaked past the University of San Carlos Warriors, 77-76, in their quarterfinal match in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Donning the hero’s cape once more was the “Lone Star” guard of UC, Brian Heruela, who made the game-winning free-throw with 3.6 seconds remaining in the game.
Heruela finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and two assists to push UC to the semifinal round and in the process break USC’s eight year streak of making it to the Final Four.
Also making it to the semis were the Southwestern University Cobras, which creamed the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats, 91-70.
However, the win came at a cost for the Cobras as their star rookie forward Ben Mbala got carried off the floor in the final period after hyperextending his knee. According to team therapist Pio Solon, Mbala is listed as day-to-day.
Mbala wound up with 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
Cameroonian Justin Aboude finished with a career-high 23 points peppered with eight boards, two assists and a steal for SWU.
In juniors play, CIT-U advanced to the next round with a 96-85 win over UC.
The Cebu Eastern College Dragons lived to see another day after defeating USC, 83-70, to nullify the latter’s twice-to-beat advantage. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio