The reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters regained some of the confidence that they lost during their debacle at the 2011 Universiade as they slipped past the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 76-72, in the seniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament late Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.
With the embarrasing losses that plagued them during their stint in Shenzhen, China, still fresh in their minds, the Webmasters vented their ire on the Cobras as they built a double-digit advantage in the first half, only to lose it and then recover in the final minute of the match.
Sophomore guard Gerald Ampoon shattered a 72-all deadlock with a gutsy pull-up jumper from the left wing with 48.1 seconds left. Then, after SWU guard Junrey Ortuyo missed on a three-pointer from the baseline, UC’s 6-foot-10 center Junemar Fajardo secured the victory with a great up-and-under post move that got Cobras’ center Justin Aboude up in the air and out of defensive position for the easy basket.
For a while, it seemed as if the Webmasters would run away with the game as they unleashed a 13-0 run anchored on Fajardo, who tallied eight in that stretch on an assortment of jumpers and layups.
When all was said and done, the Webmasters established a 35-19 lead, which eventually settled at 37-26 at halftime.
The Cobras caught up in the third period, thanks to two separate 8-0 runs, with the second one affording them a 52-50 lead after two free-throws from Eleazar Armecin.
Fajardo paced the Webmasters with 23 while Luigi Bercede added 12. Ampoon and Robinson Mohammad contributed 11 markers each. Armecin led the way for SWU with 20 while Rene Pacquioa chipped in with 14.