Luceño sparkles as UC dodges USC upset axe

CEBU, Philippines - In what was probably one of the biggest baskets in his career, Rommel Luceño hit a pair of pressure-packed free throws with seven seconds left in the contest to power the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters to an 87-85 squeaker over the tenacious University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball the other night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The 41-point explosion by 6-foot-9 center June Mar Fajardo almost evaporated into thin-air when he was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul against Sam Hermosa at the final 1:11 mark of the game and they were ahead by just five points, 83-78.

Fajardo’s blunder paved the way for a seven-point swing by the Warriors. After Hermosa sank two freebies, 80-83, Giovanni Padillo knocked in a knot-tying triple and then Michael Cantonao scored on his own gift shots off a foul by Janssen Abella to put the Warriors on top, 85-83, with only 35 seconds to play.

Fajardo though made up from his flaw by nailing two free throws to square the count for the last time at 85-all with 22 ticks left before the final buzzer.

After the Carolinians failed to execute one good play in their possession, Luceño was quickly fouled and then showed iron nerves by coolly dropping the game-clinching charities. Luceño finished with eight points.

USC actually had a chance to forge an overtime, but Giovanni Padillo missed a very daring drive.

Moncrief Rogado was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 points for UC, which extended its winning streak to six games. Their biggest date will be on September 19 when they shoot for a rare seven-game elimination round sweep against the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras.

Hermosa had netted 19 points, while outside gunners Ryan Carlo Padayao, Padillo and Cantonao each scored a dozen markers for the Warriors, who snapped out of their two-game win roll and fell to 2-3 overall.

The scores

UC (87) - Fajardo 41, Rogado 10, Abella 9, Juliane 9, Luceño 8, Cayanong 7, Quilantang 1

USC (85) - Hermosa 19, Padillo 12, Padayao 12, Cantonao 12, Gallarde 9, Cortes 8, Bakker 4, Bautista 3, Bercede 2, Panerio 2, Joven 2 Halftime: 40-36. - THE FREEMAN