San Marino advances to Partner’s Cup finals with win over Cebu Landmasters
THE SAN MARINO Corned Tuna-Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) Wildcats nabbed the last finals berth after they outclassed the Cebu Landmasters-University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 76-61, in the final day of the semifinal round in the 2013 Enervon-Cesafi Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win allowed the Wildcats a shot at vengeance against their tormentors in last year’s finals, the Prime Asia-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.
In the day’s other game, the Lancers completed a sweep of the round with a 76-65 win over the Gaisano Capital South-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters. It was their 13th win in a row dating back to the elimination round.
But all eyes were on the main game as the Wildcats and Warriors were expected to duke it out for the last finals ticket.
However, what transpired was a one-sided rout that was made possible by the strong start and finish of the Wildcats.
San Marino zoomed ahead, 45-24, at halftime, behind the combined scoring efforts of Joshua dela Cerna and Vincent Menguito, who combined for 20 in that stretch.
Article continues after this advertisementBut the Warriors fought back and eventually came to within 10, 46-56, behind a 10-0 run that was capped off by a steal and an uncontested lay-up by Stephen Que with nine minutes remaining in the contest.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Wildcats barely flinched behind the solid play of dela Cerna, who nearly single-handedly fuelled a 14-0 blast with nine points, with his three-point play putting the lead up to 24, 70-56, with 5:04 left.
It was a blow that the Warriors could not recover from as the Wildcats cruised to an easy win.
Dela Cerna, an incoming rookie, scored 29 points and was backed by Menguito, who had 11.
Que paced the Warriors with 15 while African import Ahmed Salihou had 12.
In the first game, John Abad presided over the Lancers’ balanced attack with 20 points while import Mike Harry, who is coming back from an injury, had 17.
Jan Auditor led UC with 22. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio
