After dominating CESAFI Basketball for 5 years: UV meets its Waterloo

The University of Cebu Webmasters stunned defending champion University of the Visayas Green Lancers, putting an end to the Lancers 54-0 winning streak in the basketball event of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. the other night at the UV gym.

Earlier, the 69-65 win by the UC Junior Webmasters over the UV Baby Lancers was another first for the UV in the CESAFI having suffered double losses in one playing date and the first loss by coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug.

In the opener, the Cebu Institute of Technology Wildkittens moved up to solo lead after scoring a 67-60 win over the University of San Jose Recoletos Baby Jaguars.

Orville Saludsod hit three triples in the fourth period while skipper Kenneth Kern Sesante added one as the Webmasters came off from a 54-45 deficit at the end of the third period to grab the lead after a basket by Aldeth Batobalonos, 66-64, with 2:53 left in the ballgame.

Playing a smart post defense to neutralize the Lancers' big men, the Webmasters surprisingly outrebounded the host team in the later part of the fourth period with UV in penalty, paving the way for UC to earn some points from the free throw line in the dying seconds.

The Lancers sensed defeat when Jaysar Esperat, who has a fine touch from the outside, missed a triple attempt that could have tied the ballgame at 69-all.

"Off night sila nya ang swerte dire namo," said UC coach Roel Gomez after the game. He also said they dedicated the game to Allain Abellanosa, who was suspended the rest of the season for having involved in a fight against USC's Ahman James Tagalog last September 11 at the USC gym.

The win further solidified UC's hold of the second post with a 6-3 win-loss record while UV fell to 8-1 with an overall record of 54-1 in their four-year dominating the league.

Saludsod, who fired four triples, led UC with 21 points while Sesante and Miguelito Ducay had 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Lancers were led by Rodriguez with 16 points and another 11 points each from Berame and Vergel Abelong.

Earlier, Jan Julius Colina and Robinson Mahammad each garnered 14 points to lead the Junior Webmasters as they now have a 7-4 win-loss record. They could still make it to the top spot should they score a repeat of their 63-57 win over CIT Wildkittens on Sunday's second meeting.

Patrick Avila led the 6-5 Baby Lancers with 22 points.

Karen Rick dela Cerna paced the Wildkittens with 14 points followed by Rein Carlo Augusto with 12 points and Clayton Labagala added 10.

The Baby Jaguars, who lost all their 11 games with only one more game left to prevent yet another CESAFI record of a 0-12 shutout, were led by Renato Abing with 16 points even as Aniceto Lapiz, Jr. and Louie Yballe chipped in with 14 points apiece.

The scores

First Game (Juniors)

CIT (67) - Dela Cerna 14, Augusto 12, Labagala 10, Del Mar 6, Cañete 5, Ybañez 4, Alvarez 4, Diez 4, Diaz 2

USJR (60) - Abing 16, Lapiz 14, Yballe 14, Cabanes 8, Caparros 5, Andoy 3, Unabia 1 Halftime: 33-21

Second Game

UC (69) - Colina 14, Mohammad 14, Tabalin 9, Capoy 8, Gayo 6, Espinosa 5, Cuico 3, Ompad 2

UV (65) - P. Avila 22, Mercader 10, Pitogo 7, Heruela 6, Cañada 6, Belocura 4, Cabahug 3, V. Avila 2 Halftime:22-30

Third Game (Seniors)

UC (75) - Saludsod 21, Sesante 14, Ducay 12, Abatayo 7, Batobalonos 7, Yncierto 7, Canceran 4, Villanil 3

UV (68) - Rodriguez 16, Abelong 11, Berame 11, Mepaña 8, Akad 5, Ababon 5, Calo 5, Sevilla 4, Santos 3, Tacaldo 2, Esperat 2 Halftime: 27-41