Games today
5 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. USJR
6:30 p.m. – UV vs. USPF
The University of San Carlos Warriors won their second game in a row after blasting the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers, 69-55, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Warriors gained control of the lead in the first half and never let go of it in spite of a valiant comeback try by the clearly overmatched Panthers in the final canto.
Miguel Plata, a recruit from the University of Mindanao, led USC with 15 while Christian Laude pumped in 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block that pushed the Warriors to a 2-1 record.
The game was tied for the last time at 15-all after which USC unleashed a 24-7 run that spanned the first and second periods which netted the Warriors a 39-22 lead at halftime.
Veteran Nico Magat conspired with neophytes Plata and Laude in that sizzling run that continued in the third where a bucket by Kiefer Lim pushed the Warriors’ lead to 21 points, 45-24.
But USPF showed some fight and cut the deficit down to 10, 46-56, behind the efforts of Art Camello, Jomari Sollano and Lawrence Escanilla. But USC was not going to be denied as Plata and Laude scored on midrange jumpers that extended their lead to 16 with six minutes left.
USPF fell to 0-2. They were led by the 15 points of Camello.
Meanwhile, in the juniors division, the USPF Baby Panthers outgunned the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters, 85-83, in overtime for their third win in four games.
Eddie Villagracia and Sam Cantillas calmly made a free throw each that proved to be the winning difference in the pulse-stopping match. Still, UC had a chance at forcing another overtime or even winning the game but muffed two attempts as time expired.
Guard Goldwaine Baje led the winners with 27 points. UC’s own guard Justine Dacalos matched Baje tit-for-tat and scored a game-high 32 points which went for naught as UC suffered its third loss in four games.