Wildcats escape Panthers in Cesafi caging

THE Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats pulled out all the stops in crunchtime to defeat the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers, 79-75, in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was a close game all throughout between the remaining winless teams in this tournament. However, the Wildcats showed more gumption near the end as Floyd Taboada canned a free-throw and a difficult lay-up with 16.1 seconds remaining to give his team their first win in three outings.

The Panthers held the lead for the last time at 74-73 after James Ferraren hit a midrange jumper with 2:06 left. But the Wildcats retaliated with a fastbreak basket from Allen Dimco off a nice drop pass from Mark Booc for a 75-74 advantage.

The pivotal moment of the match came on USPF’s offensive as, forward, Lawrence Escanilla was called for a technical foul for excessive swinging of his elbow after he was initially fouled by CIT-U guard, Franklin Batiquin. Escanilla split his charities to tie the game while Taboada gave the lead back to the Wildcats by making one of his two free-throws off the technical foul call.

The Wildcats still had possession and took advantage as Taboada left his defender with a quick first step and powered his way up for a lay-up for a 78-75 lead. USPF had one last chance but rookie forward, Jason Cando, gave in to nerves, and threw the ball away. Batiquin then made one free-throw to seal the victory.

Dimco had 27 points, four rebounds, two steals and the same number of blocks while Taboada finished with 23 markers, four rebounds and two assists.

Joseph Sedurifa paced USPF, which fell to 0-3 (win-loss), with 18 points. The Panthers played without two key players in forwards Fritz Dajalos and Earvin Ferraren. Both were nursing different injuries.

In the juniors division, the reigning champions, University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, kept their unbeaten streak and ran it to five games after they demolished the Don Bosco Greywolves, 80-54. MVP, Paul Desiderio, had a quiet 15 points to lead the way for UV. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio