6th CESAFI Cage Wars: UC, USJ-R Eye share of lead

Opening day winners University of Cebu Webmasters and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars hope to earn a share of the lead as they go up against each other in the resumption of the 2006 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball action today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Likewise, the UC Junior Webmasters shoot for their second straight win when they clash with the USJ-R Baby Jaguars in the second game at 2:30 pm.

In the other secondary battle, the Cebu Institute of Technology Wildkittens and the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation Panthers square off against each other.

The winner of the UC-USJR tussle will join the 2-0 University of the Visayas Green Lancers on the top of the leaderboard.

The Webmasters pulled a hard-earned 110-102 victory over USP last Sunday, while the Jaguars posted an easy win over Don Bosco College in the opening game last week, 112-73.

Win or lose, UC has a mountain to climb tomorrow as its tackles the Lancers, the undisputed CESAFI champions for the past five years.

Certainly though, the Webmasters are not going to give up the game easily against the Jaguars. They are not just playing at their homecourt, they're also a running team capable of pulling a big surprise.

Offensively, the Webmasters have Allain Abellanosa and Jared Kanet Abatayo to count on.

However, the Jaguars may have a headache if guys like Janssen Abella, Marvin Ceniza, Elizaldy Mamalias, Jonathan Canceran and Michael Estenzo are hitting well from the field.

The Jaguars hope to counter them with Luther Luke Justiniani, Bobby Hatague and Lyndon Gudez. At the frontcourt, they rely on the strength of Randy Pogoy, Ranulfo Malinao and the comebacking Ariel Lozano.

In the main match, USC and USP, both losers in their initial games, aim to break through the win column.

The Warriors will squeeze the most from the fearsome threesome of Enrico Llanto, Niño Ramirez and Vernini Tangarorang, while the rookie-laden Panthers bank on ace center Cleford Maguate, Moncrief Rogado, Bryan Travero and Jason Bartolabac, among others.