Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
(For third)
1 p.m. – CEC vs. USPF (jrs.)
2:30 p.m. – UV vs. USC (srs.)
(Finals, Game 2)
4 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. UV (jrs.)
5:30 p.m. – SWU vs. UC (srs.)
The reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters took a 1-0 lead over the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in their best-of-five finals series in the seniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament after winning Game 1, 87-84, late Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Proving that they are more than just a Junemar Fajardo-powered squad, the Webmasters fought off the Cobras and even increased their lead during a crucial stretch in the fourth period when their 6-foot-10 ace center was sitting down because of foul trouble.
Crucial three-pointers by Edward Pao and Luigi Bercede put away the Cobras during crunchtime.
Fajardo managed to score 26 points in spite the trained defense that was played on him.
Pao added 18 in what was a breakout game for the power forward this season. Robinson Mohamad added 13 while Brian Heruela scored 10.
As expected, the two teams fought tooth-and-nail as the Cobras led by just two, 71-69, heading to the final canto.
SWU was still ahead, 78-77, when disaster struck for UC as Fajardo incurred his fourth personal foul with 6:07 remaining in the game.
Heads shook and morale plummeted for the Webmasters as it seemed as if they were headed for certain doom during that stretch.
However, Pao and Heruela refused to be fazed by the development as the former converted on a basket while the latter made a spinning left-hander that put the Webmasters in front, 81-78.
The Cobras responded with two free-throws from Rene Pacquiao but Bercede answered with a wide-open trey that gave them an 84-80 lead.
SWU came back with a short jumper from Bon Guillena but Pao hit anoter trifecta that erected an 87-82 lead.
Guillena paced SWU with 23.