USC holds off UC

CEBU, Philippines- The University of San Carlos  Warriors mounted a big lead only to experience a turbulent fourth-period, nevertheless their great  effort rewarded them a precarious 74-65 victory over the University of Cebu Webmasters in the 14th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Warriors enjoyed an imposing 30-point advantage, 48-18, at the start of the third period, but they instantly received a rude welcome from the moment on as the Webmasters used a highly effective trapping defense in staging a spirited comeback.

However, the closest the Webmasters could come was at 63-70 on a five-point swing by Carlos Tabaquero and Justin Dacalos as the Warriors played cool under heavy fire to escape with a nine-point win.

Foreign cager Espoir Toyambi was the only player in double figures with 13 points as the Warriors motored to their best ever 3-1 start in the league's 14-year history. Jan Michael Auditor had 17 points for the Webmasters, who suffered their third loss in four starts.

On the other hand, in an exciting battle of undefeated teams under the juniors division, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles squandered a 20-point lead late in the fourth period, but recovered in time to salvage a close 74-71 decision over the University of the

Visayas ( Baby Lancers.

Just when everybody thought that the Magis Eagles were headed to a lopsided win after posting a 68-48 lead off an undergoal stab by Jose Piero Dominic Longa at the final 4:15 mark of the contest, the Baby Lancers staged a furious comeback anchored on Theo Joshua Flores.

The fans of the Baby Lancers got even wilder when Orlan Wamar buried a booming 3-pointer that pulled UV to within just four points, 68-72, with only 19.2 seconds left to play.

Time, however, was not on UV's side as SHS-Ateneo safely cruised to a marginal, but breath-taking victory. Joshua Sinclair churned out 22 points, while Longa and Felixberto 'Jan-Jan' Jaboneta, Jr. chipped in 13 and 12 markers, respectively, as the Magis Eagles wrested the solo lead in the secondary level with an immaculate 3-0 record.

Flores finished with 21 points and Wamar added 14, but their endgame explosion went for naught as the Baby Lancers saw their three-game winning streal come to a screeching halt. (FREEMAN)

The scores