USPF seeks to end 3-game jinx

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers hope to bounce back from a heart-breaking loss when they take on the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in main game of tonight’s 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm UC vs. USPF (Jrs.)

6 pm USC vs. USPF (Srs.)

In the high school division, the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters will go up against the front-running University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers.

The Panthers suffered their third straight defeat at the hands of the the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 80-72. The Cobras, thus, joined the UV Lancers at second place with identical 2-1 win-loss records.

The Panthers, who led by as much as 10 points twice, were ahead most of the way and were still on top by two points, 69-67, on a basket by Rocky Manansala with 2:54 left to play.

Eliazar Armecin, however, scored four straight points to give the Cobras the upperhand, 71-69, for good.

Interestingly, Gilbert Gallarde, a former Panther, topscored for the Cobras with 24 points, 14 of which he made in the final quarter. Eliud Poligrates ably backed him up with 21 markers.

Ellison Rivera and Fritz Dajalos connived for 30 points but their efforts went for naught as the Panthers dropped to 1-3.

The scores

SWU (80) - Gallarde 24, Poligrates 21, Diango 8, Pacquiao 6, Pria 5, Litorja 4, Wagas 2

USPF (72) - Rivera 17, Dajalos 13, Durano 10, Manansala 9, Tabada 8, Linao 6, Avila 5, Bardillas 2, Fuentes 2 Halftime: 32-37 (THE FREEMAN)