CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons roared back in the fourth period and made mincemeat of the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters, 92-81, to come up with a 2-0 record in the semifinal round of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Earlier, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles ousted the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers after escaping with an 87-83 victory in overtime behind the heroics of Adven Jess Diputado.
The Dragons put their acts together in the fourth period to erase a 59-64 deficit and came back with fury to outscore the Junior Webmasters in the windup.
Already knocking at the finals door, Dragons coach Jerry Jaranilla and member of the coaching staff Sammy Sia refused to issue any statement because according to them, anything can happen tomorrow especially if they will lose to the Magis Eagles and the Junior Webmasters beat the Lancers that would create a triple tie at the top for a possible 2-1 win-loss records.
What Jaranilla said was that “swerte lang hindi nag-give up ‘yong mga bata nang lumamang ang UC.”
The Dragons, who led almost all the way, lost the lead in the third period when they entered into early penalty which was capitalized by UC with bull-strong center Alvin Labolabo Jr. He led the Junior Webmasters with 31 points mostly from the post where he dominated his rivals.
Nike Montalvo topscored with 23 points for the Dragons even as Benjamin James Zosa and Roy Villarias added 15 points apiece.
Earlier, Adrian Roland Muller and Bradley Bacaltos each scored 21 points, while Diputado added 20 points to lead the Magis Eagles who are now tied with UC with 1-1 win-loss cards.
Vincent Mendoza had 25 points for the short-handed Baby Lancers, who were eliminated from the finals for the first time since 2008 when they snatched the crown against UC. The following year, they missed the finals and paved the way for a CIT-USJR setto. (THE FREEMAN)