Reigning juniors champions Dragons escape gritty CIT-U Wildkittens for fourth victory

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

(Juniors)

1 p.m. – USC vs. CIT-U

2:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs. DBC

4 p.m. – CEC vs. USPF

5:30 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. UC

The reigning champions Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons got the scare of their lives from the unlikeliest of sources as they survived the gritty Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens, 67-62, in the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Cold sweat begun to pour for the wards of CEC head coach Jerry Jaranilla, as CIT-U pushed ahead, 59-58, after a long climb from an 11-point halftime deficit.

However, the free-throw made by CIT-U’s Kenneth Pareja was the last time that they would taste the lead as CEC recaptured the advantage on their next offensive with two free-throws by guard, Marvin Bauya.

Then, birthday boy Rex Villarosa snuck in and stole an outlet pass which led to an uncontested lay-in that gave them a 62-59 lead with 1:47 left.

Luther Huevos then added four more free-throws down the stretch that preserved the Dragons’ fourth win in five games.

Big man Lyle Sumayang had 22 to lead CEC before fouling out with five minutes left in the final canto. In other games, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers scored a whopping 100 points as they demolished the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars, 100-70. The University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors also managed to get their first win of the tournament after they defeated the halpess University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 59-48.