Panthers stun Jaguars in CESAFI basketball

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers pulled off an 80-75 stunner over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars in their final elimination round assignment in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season on Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games tomorrow (Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm USJ-R vs. USPF (Jrs.)

6 pm USJ-R vs. DBTC (Srs.)

Surprisingly, the Panthers led most of the way and despite missing five of their six free throws at the final 3:18 mark of the contest, they hung on to a scrappy five-point triumph that literally left USPF coach Raul Latonio, Sr. speechless.

"Murag wala pa man koy ika-komentaryo karong panahona. Nalipay lang ko nga wala na gyud mi modayon og collapse sa fourth quarter kay kana ra gyuy problema nga among sulbaronon," said Latonio.

Bugged by endgame meltdown in their previous games, the Panthers faced another major test when the Jaguars tied the count at 75-all on a free throw by Kurt Amores with 31.6 seconds left to play.

After the Panthers regained the lead, 77-75, USJ-R coach Edito Salacut was whistled for a technical foul as he was livid about why Durano was not called for a travelling violation before making the shot with only 11.8 ticks remaining in the gameclock.

The referees stood pat on their decision, but the story did not end there because after the game, Salacut and his coaching staff approached the referees towards the other side of the court that almost resulted into a hardcourt fracas. The situation was swiftly put under control by uniformed policemen.

Ellison Rivera sank the technical free throws, 79-75, before Dajalos hit another one to peg the final tally.

Durano, last year's slam dunk king, had a splendid peforamnce finishing with 19 points for

the Panthers. Dajalos added 18 markers followed by and Rivera with 12.

The scores

USPF (80) - Durano 19, Dajalos 18, Rivera 12, Tinoy 8, Linao 7, Filoteo 7, Fuentes 3, Tabada 2, Bardilas 2, Sedurifa 2

USJ-R (75) - Villaver 15, Duran 11, Amores 9, Lapiz 9, Nidalo 7, Bibera 6, Suliman 6, Pateño 4, Dela Peña 4, Dela Rama 2

Halftime: 34-32. - GGM (THE FREEMAN)