Dark bantams outshine Light UV's Avillanosa wins "Slam Dunk" contest, USJ-R's Capillar is 3-point king

CEBU, Philippines - The combined forces of topseed University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers and third-ranked Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons powered Team Dark to a 84-80 victory over the Light squad in yesterday's high school edition of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) All-Star Game at the Cebu Coliseum.

CEC pointguard Marvin Bauya made crucial hits when it mattered most on the way to finish with 17 points that went along with the coveted All-Star MVP award. He and James Neil Sumayang were actually given more playing time by coach Jerry Jaranilla even as the top guns from the Baby Lancers that included Andres Paul Desiderio and Nelson Peralta were there to back up in offense.

Henric Dawn Ochea of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles delivered for the Light side with 20 points, while his teammate Julius Cadavis added 17 markers.

Nikko Otadoy, the top gunner from Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats, scored 15 points and Rommel Diapera, the most consistent scorer for the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, chipped in 12 markers.

In the side events, pointguard Benjamin Capillar of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars bested 13 other rivals to win the 3-point shootout. He beat UC's Francis Luigi Bercede of UC in the final round by the slimmest of margins, 13-12.

In the Slam Dunk contest, UV's 6-foot-6 center Andrew Avillanoza was adjudged the champion after scoring 43 points. He outsmarted his teammates Rene June Saycon and Wowie Kadir. - THE FREEMAN