UV, USJ-R in KO duel for CESAFI 3rd place

CEBU, Philippines - For one last time this season, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars will take on each other in the deciding match of their best-of-three battle for third place in the 14th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Behind the scintillating 20-point show of Jerome Mapao, the Lancers prevailed in the series opener, 67-61, but the Jaguars, behind Kevin Villafranca's season-high 30 points, charged back in Game 2 via a close 75-72 decision to forge a sudden-death duel.

UV and USJ-R will settle the issue once and for all in their 6 p.m. encounter, right after a pair of juniors division semifinal matches.

In the 2 p.m. opener, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles will try to get back on the winning track when they go up against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers.

After a string of 11 victories, the Magis Eagles were sent crashing back to earth by the previously listless Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens last Tuesday. The Wildkittens squandered a 25-point advantage early in the final period, but hung on tough until the closing seconds of the contest to pull off a 60-57 stunner over the Magis Eagles.

The Wildkittens hope to sustain their momentum but it's going to be another uphill climb for them as they tackle the UV Baby Lancers at 4 p.m. (GGM) (FREEMAN)