CEBU, Philippines - Six-foot-nine tower June Mar Fajardo of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters scored 16 points to vault the CESAFI Selection past the Smart-Pampanga Buddies, 77-73, in the opening match of the five-day Friendship Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
4 pm Pampanga-Smart Buddy vs. Ateneo
5:45 pm Cebu Landmasters vs. CESAFI Selection
The game, which went close all the way with the CESAFI Selection leading only by three points at the intermission, 37-34, was still tied in the final 5:53 of the contest on Fajardo’s medium range jumper.
Back-up big man Kurt Amores of the University of San Jose-Recoletos added three more points to give the local boys of coach Dodie Miego a 68-65 edge with still 4:39 left to play.
A spectacular air-suspension drive by Aard Diango gave the host team a 72-67 edge but after two costly errors by the CESAFI Selection, the visitors from Pampanga pulled within 73-75 on two gift shots by former USJ-R Jaguar Earn Saguindel with only 34 seconds remaining.
In the ensuing sequence, Kevin Quilantang and Amores hit crucial free throws to seal CESAFI’s win.
The scores
CESAFI Selection (77)- Fajardo 16, Diango 12, Armecin 10, Pao 8, Amores 6, Pacquiao 6, Abella 5, Pateño 4, Quilantang 4, Villaver 2, Bibera 2, Duran 2
Pampanga (73)- A. Espiritu 17, Arao 16, Gelig 11, Alfad 6, Luanzon 6, Bansil 5, Saguindel 4, Vizcara 3, Baluyo 3, Espiritu 2 Halftime: 37-34. – THE FREEMAN