UC Jrs. claim second seed

CEBU, Philippines - The University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters ended the elimination round on a winning note after beating the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers, 80-65, to finish as the second seed in the 10th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games tomorrow: (Cebu Coliseum)

1 pm USC vs. CIT (Jrs.)

2:30 pm DBTC vs. CEC (Jrs.)

4 pm UV vs. USP-F (Jrs.)

5:30 pm USJR vs. SHS-Ateneo (Jrs.)

 As of press time last night, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers were gunning for a victory that will give them the automatic first place. They were up against the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles.

The Junior Webmasters, who finished the elimination round with a 6-2 win-loss record, have to survive a close first half taking only a 33-30 halftime lead and then started to gain control only after the third period.

In the fourth quarter, the Junior Webmasters caught fire hitting four triples and one three-point play sending the Baby Panthers reeling to open a 75-55 lead.

Alvin Labolabo had a couple of three-point plays of his topscoring 27 points and yanked out a number of crucial rebounds as he asserted his dominance at the paint.

Point guard Jeric Yburan had two triples late in the fourth period and finished with 14 points while John Raphsael Aranas and Rabani Comendador added further damage when they also hit one triple each.

Joshua Corcilles also finished with 27 points for the Baby Panthers while Rommel Diapera added 21 markers but the four other teammates who also scored had minimal contribution.

Later in the night, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens made up for poor free throw shooting with a better ball handling in the closing minutes before escaping with a 63-59 win over the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Baby Jaguars.

The Wildkittens recovered from a 48-55 deficit late in the fourth period and then slowly crept to take the lead when James Sinalan split his charities in the final 55 seconds seconds then Clyvin

 Limalima and John Anthony Lucena scored free throws that lifted them to victory. 

The Baby Jaguars took the early lead, 12-0 but the Wildkittens countered with a 12-0 run to tie the count at 12-all. Since then, they were battling tooth for tooth.

The scores:

First Game:

UC (Jrs.) 80 – Labolabo 17, Yburan 14, Aranas 9, Pua 9, Comendador 8, Talisic 7, Otida 4, Nemeño 2

USP-F (Jrs.) 65 – Corcilles 27, Diapera 21, Gigante 9, Mitante 4, Matthews 2, Robles 2

Halftime: 33-30

Second Game:

CIT (Jrs.) 63 – Lucena 17, Neri 14, Limalima 12,  Sinalan 9, Delima 5, Cal 4, Dictado 2

USJR (Jrs.) 59 – Magdali 21, Dela Peña 14, Rz Senining 9, Rl Senining 6, Barbosa 4, Villegas 3, Viajar 1, Leyson 1

Halftime: 31-29. – THE FREEMAN