The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles finished the first round with a flurry, defeating the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 84-75, in the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament yesterday at the University of San Carlos gym.
The win allowed Ateneo de Cebu to finish the round with a perfect record of 8-0 (win-loss). However, the Magis Eagles were made to work for it hard as the Baby Jaguars utilized their pesky guards and their outside shooting to make the game close until the final two minutes of the match when their ammunition finally ran out.
After a tight first half that saw the Eagles lead by three, 42-39, Ateneo de Cebu tried to break the game wide open by making the most out of their height and heft advantage with Dawn Ochea scoring 10 in that stretch that helped them to a 58-48 lead.
But the Baby Jaguars remained unfazed as Carl Viajar scored 11 straight points in a sizzling display of three-point marksmanship that tied the match at 59-all. The Eagles eventually brought a 67-65 lead to the final period.
USJ-R continued to lean on their athletic guards with Roland Hermosilla giving them their first taste of the lead, 70-69 with a three-pointer, 6:43 left.
Later, Ricky Cuyos hit a short jumper that kept them in front for the last time at 72-71. Then, Dave Yu hit a trey, Julius Cadavis made an uncontested layup and Ochea canned a putback that allowed the Eagles to move in front, 78-72. Ochea had 24 to lead the way for Ateneo de Cebu while Cadavis and Aaron Sing each had 10.
In other games, the reigning champions Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons had six players score in twin digits as they demolished the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 109-53. Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) defeated Don Bosco, 76-70 while the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) downed UC the other night, 79-66.