USPF Panthers dominate NBTC Cebu Khalifa Cup (USJ-R Baby Jaguars also advance to Visayas Finals)

CEBU, Philippines — The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers went through some fraught and tense moments before taking down the gritty University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars in overtime, 76-74, to rule the Khalifa Cup:National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Cebu Local Qualifying Tournament last Sunday, December 15 at the Recoletos Coliseum of USJ-R Basak Campus.

The Panthers were actually on the brink of defeat when the Baby Jaguars rallied from a nine-point deficit early in the third period to seize the upper hand, 66-64, on a basket by Jan Francis Petilos with 24 seconds left in the regulation period.

But USPF’s Luke Dy hit a crucial shot with 6.7 seconds remaining that sent the game into a five-minute extension.

Clark Candia of the Baby Jaguars scored the first five points in extra time but Sebastian Versoza came to USPF’s rescue by drilling in back-to-back 3-pointers before Dy and Marcus Lozano stepped on the scoring plate to help the Panthers pull of a nerve-racking win.

Big man Fritz Gonzales paced the Panthers with 21 points to romp away with the MVP award. He was joined in the Mythical 5 by his teammates Dy and Verzosa, and USJ-R’s Jan Vince Oringo and J Lord Pepito.

Dy and Verzosa combined for 23 points as the Panthers of coach Alan Cabatingan punched a ticket to the NBTC Visayas Regional Championship 2025 slated on February 12-16 at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School gym in Bacolod City.

Oringo netted 19 points, Pepito scored 13, while Candia and Kyle Barrieta connived for 23 points for the Baby Jaguars, who also qualified for the NBTC Visayas Finals with their first runner-up finish.

NBTC Cebu LQT commissioner Atty. Francis Tolibas said the Panthers and the Baby Jaguars will each receive P150,000 subsidy as they compete in the Regionals two months from now. — (FREEMAN)