CEC Dragons escape with 83-77 win over USPF

THE CEBU EASTERN College Dragons primed themselves up for their much-anticipated match-up with the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles with an 83-77 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers in the juniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.  basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

With the titanic showdown with their bitter rivals Magis Eagles looming on the horizon in what is a matchup for the second seed and the last twice-to-beat bonus, the Dragons dug down deep and beat the Panthers in the fourth period behind the production of Marvin Bauya, Alfred Sedillo and Michael Balankig.

The Panthers made life difficult for the Dragons all-game long as the latter held a precarious, 55-52 lead heading at the end of the third canto.

CEC got Bauya’s offense back on track as the veteran sniper notched a three-pointer and two jumpers to push his team in front. Balankig and Sedillo connived for 14 markers to offset the combined 16-point production of USPF’s Rommel Diapera and Jomari Gairanod.

Lyle Sumayang and Sedillo each had 17 markers to lead the Dragons to their 12th win in 15 games.  They are currently chasing the Eagles, who are in second place with a 12-2 (win-loss) record.

In other games, the University of San Carlos Baby Warriors closed out their season with an 88-79 win over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens.  The Don Bosco Greywolves were also victorious over the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars, 69-65. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio