Partner's Cup quarterfinals on today

CEBU, Philippines - The second seed San Marino Corned Tuna-USC Warriors will take on seventh qualifier Bibbo-CIT Wildcats, even as the fourth-ranked Enervon C-UC Webmasters will face the fifth seed Aerosol-USPF Panthers in the collegiate division at the start of the 4th CESAFI Partner’s Cup quarterfinals today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

1 pm CIT vs. DBTC (Jrs.)

 2:30 pm USJ-R vs. USC (Jrs.)

4 pm USC vs. CIT (Srs.)

5:30 pm UC vs. USPF (Srs.)

Both armed with twice-to-beat incentives, the Warriors and the Webmasters could make it to the semifinals outright with a win tonight.

        Likewise, no. 2 seed in the secondary division Bibbo-CIT Wildkittens could automatically advance into the semis if they beat the listless DBTC Junior Greywolves in today’s opener, while fourth-seed Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-USJ-R Baby Jaguars try to secure an automatic slot when they go up against the smaller yet tenacious San Marino-USC Baby Warriors.

The Warriors didn’t have a hard time in disposing the Wildcats in the elimination, but for the Webmasters, it will take them another hardwork to oust the Panthers, who gave them a headache last week as they had to bank on the last-second heroics of former Panther Moncrief Rogado to escape with a 74-72 victory.

The Warriors are expected to bank on Sam Hermosa, Joven Cid Cortes, Michael Cantonao, Giovanni Padillo and the vastly-improved Francis Luigi Bercede.

The Wildcats have a chance to extend the series if they are assured of the presence of coach Gilbert Demape and grizzled veterans Jerry Jaca and Gerry Cavan to join forces with Sherwin Abobo, Chester Curso, Arnel Ipang, Sherwin Resilla and Karen Rick dela Cerna.   

The Webmasters, on the other hand, will squeeze the most from 6-foot-9 center June Mar Fajardo, Rogado, Kelvin Julaine, Edward Pao, Rommel Luceno and Kevin Quilantang to counter the USPF crew anchored mainly on Elvis Labares, Michael Sereno, Elwin Durano, Ellison Rivera and Fritz Dajalos, among others.    (FREEMAN NEWS)