Hapee-USC survives Skygo-SWU

The Hapee-USC Warriors remained steady down the stretch, leaning on the duo of Enrico Llanto and Niño Ramirez as they defeated the Skygo-SWU Cobras, 86-80, in overtime in last Sunday's Partner's Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.
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•Games today:
•(Cebu Coliseum)
•4:30 pm Guardo-Don Bosco vs. Gaisano
•Metro-UC
•6 pm El Rancho-CIT vs. Skygo-SWU

Hapee, inspired by the rare presence of team owner Jack Huang, made their move in extra time, outscoring Skygo, 14-5 after ending the regulation period at 73-all.

Llanto, who led Hapee with 28 big points, gave the Warriors a 73-71 lead in the final 27 seconds by splitting his two charities.

But in transition, the Cobras tied the count at 73-all on Richard Gianchand's basket still with 12 ticks left.

It could have been a victory for the Warriors in regulation had Ramirez not missed his final attempt off a medium range jumper and Paul Joven also missed a follow-up on the close range.

Before the overtime, it was the Cobras who controlled the game in the fourth period but the Warriors did not want to be left off retaliating almost very basket made by the Cobras until the Warriors grabbed the upperhand on Ramirez's three-point play off a foul by Mariano Canonigo, 69-68, still 2:18 left in the ballgame.

Louie Arong had 18 points for the Cobras, who now fell to 0-2, as it was evident they were tired down the closing minutes and collapsed towards to endgame.

Gianchand, a power forward finished with 17 points while Eric Zanoria and Clifford Maguate had 12 and 11 points, respectively even as Marvin Yap added 10 points.

The Warriors now had 2-0 win-loss record, joining with CFI Hotdogs-USJR at second place.

The scores:

Hapee-USC (86) - Llanto 28, Ramirez 13, Dejano 12, Blanes 8, Gallarde 7, Joven 5, Sharma 5, Igao 4, Padayao 3, Palos 1

Skygo-SWU (80) - Arong 18, Gianchand 17, Zanoria 12, Maguate 11, Yap 10, Litorja 8, Tragico 4, Jueco 2 Halftime: 38-33