CEBU, Philippines – Michael Cantonao drilled in eight triples of his 27 points to power the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors to a 104-78 annihilation of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats last Thursday in the lone collegiate match-up of the 10th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season at the Cebu Coliseum.
Cantonao was too hot to handle that he led the Warriors in a free-wheeling exchange of baskets in the fourth period where they mounted an almost insurmountable 35-point lead, 78-43, on a basket by Robert Gines Codilla. The Wildcats tried to withstand the fury but failed to dismantle the lead even with Chester Curso was more deadly in his return from a one-game suspension leading the Wildcats with 29 points.
Again, the Warriors lived up on their marvelous teamwork and despite having only eight players in their lineup, they are just too tenacious to come up with a win with six players scoring in double figures led by Cantonao.
The Warriors and the Wildcats, who are now locked up at second place with similar 3-2 win-loss cards, could still keep the second spot with a victory tonight against separate rivals-the Warriors go up against the winless USP-F Panthers while the Wildcats are pitted against the equally-strong SWU Cobras.
Joven Cid Cortes added 17 points for the Warriors while Sam Hermosa and Codilla chipped in with 15 points apiece even as John Nilton Otida and Mark Gil Panerio finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
In assuming their roles, guards Mico Santos and Chino Uy did not score in double figures but their assists were as vital as the points earned by their other teammates.
Rookie Allan Dimco had a stellar performance scoring 17 points for the Wildcats but the missing links were Arnel Ipang and Floyd Taboada, who were spectacular during their games against the USJR Jaguars where they escaped with a 94-92 victory last August 14. Ipang and Taboada, both can score fairly from the field, just made nine points each. (FREEMAN)