Kia Motors-CIT keeps finals bid alive with close victory

The Kia Motors-Cebu Institute of Technology remained in contention for a finals slot after they squeaked past the San Marino Corned Tuna-University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers, 74-72, yesterday in the semifinal round of the 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partner’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Wildcats dug deep and got crucial makes from forwards Jeffrey Taghoy and Jestoni Baclaan that offset the terrible second half performance from star guard, Floyd Taboada, who scored 28 in the first half but missed all but one of his field goal attempts and two free-throws in the last 20 minutes of the game.

With Taboada humming in the first half, Kia Motors led 41-33, but suddenly fell prey to an early onslaught by San Marino who rattled off 12 unanswered points to lead, 45-42. But Kia survived that and took a 61-54 advantage to the final canto with a 9-2 windup that was capped off by a three-pointer and a mid-range jumper by guard Axel Rabaya.

The fourth canto was a see-saw battle that saw both teams tied at 69-all, after a keyhole jumpshot by San Marino’s Fritz Dajalos with 2:31 left. Kia Motors though, retaliated with a short baseline jumper by Taghoy which was followed by an up and under shot by Baclaan. A free-throw by Taghoy put them ahead by five, 74-69, with 14.6 left on the clock.

Lawrence Escanilla closed the gap with a three-pointer with 1.4 seconds remaining but time was not on San Marino’s side as they absorbed their second defeat in as many games. Kia Motors improved to 1-1 in this round.

Taboada got ample support from Rabaya who scored 13 markers. Dajalos and Joseph Sedurifa each had 15 to pace the Panthers.