USC books semis ticket with victory over USPF

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

5:15 p.m. – CITU vs. USPF (jrs.)

6:45 p.m. – CITU vs. USJ-R (srs.)

The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors booked their ticket to the semifinal round after they got past the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 71-67, in the seniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament late Sunday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Warriors finished the elimination round with a 7-5 (win-loss) record and will join the reigning champions University of Cebu (UC), the University of the Visayas (UV) and Southwestern University (SWU) in the next round.

The Panthers, which needed to beat the Warriors by more than nine points in order to give themselves a shot at a ticket to the semifinals, bowed out of contention with a 4-7 mark.

USPF was actually in prime position to claim the win as they led, 52-49, heading to the final canto. However, the Warriors’ disciplined offense got them back into the match leading to a frenzied mad scramble for the lead in the game’s dying moments.

The Panthers last tasted the lead at 66-65, after an inside stab by center Mil Linao with 1:13 remaining. But the Warriors reclaimed the lead with two free-throws from Cid Cortes. On USPF’s next offensive, Fritz Dajalos got fouled as he was going up for a basket off an inbound play. Nerves got to the normally steady power forward as he missed his freethrows.

USC made USPF pay for their gaffe as Robert Codilla sank two freebies for a 69-66 lead with 38 ticks left. Later, Dajalos was once again sent to the line as he was fouled while attempting a long jumper. Still, Dajalos panicked and made just one of two, which set up USC’s Mike Cantonao for two insurance freethrows.

Giovanni Padillo and Cortes each tallied 14 points to lead the Warriors.