USC, UV make semis

The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors completed the semifinal roster as they ousted their respective opponents at the close of the quarterfinal round of the 13th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at the University of San Jose-Recoletos gym in Basak.

UV, the former nine-time champion, put the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers out of their misery as they eliminated the latter, 72-63.

The Warriors, on the other hand, kept the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters at bay with timely baskets during crunchtime to emerge victorious, 79-69, in an intense game that USC’s assistant coach Junthy Valenzuela and UC’s Kenneth Niones get ejected from the game for separate infractions in one particular incident near the end of the first half.

In that play, USC guard Victor Rabat drove hard on a fastbreak and suffered a horrendous fall after getting fouled by Niones.

Upon seeing his player tumble on the floor, Valenzuela vented out his frustrations about the game’s officiating by taking a monobloc chair, slamming it on the playing court and shattering it to pieces.

As a result of their actions, both Valenzuela and Niones were ejected from the game.

Unfazed by the loss of Valenzuela, the Warriors started the third period with fire in their eyes and unleashed an 11-2 run to put them on top by 14, 55-41. But UC came right back with a 13-3 run anchored on the hot shooting of Jan Auditor and Noel Villanueva to get the Webmasters within four, 54-58, heading to the final stretch.

The game remained tight in the fourth but the Warriors pulled away after two freethrows by Dominic Adlawan, a slashing drive by Christian Laude and a lay-up by Import Ahmed Salihou Salihou got them a 77-67 lead with 3:16 left.

Salihou was the frontman for USC with 17 points, 19 rebounds and four blocks. Stephen Que added 14 while Miguel Plata chipped in 12.

Villanueva was the lone player to reach double-figures for UC with 25 points and seven boards.