Warriors complete 6-0 sweep

CEBU, Philippines –  Playing three consecutive games in a span of six days has obviously impacted their performance but the University of San Carlos Warriors still gathered enough strength and energy to eke out a 67-62 decision over the exuberant University of Cebu Webmasters in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Coming off hard-earned victories against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats and the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, fatigue factor has somehow taken its toll on the Warriors who were not in their usual element except for their do-it-all reinforcement Shooster Olago and hardwordking forward Charles Pepito.

Olago tossed in half of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter that became USC's lifeline in the face of a spirited challenge by the indefatigable Webmasters all throughout the 40-minute encounter.

The 6-foot-6 Cameroonian tower also hauled 13 rebounds and three steals, while Pepito banged in 13 points and pulled away a dozen rebounds to help the Warriors of coach Britt Reroma complete a six-game sweep in the first round of elimination.

After a tentative start, the Warriors' only bright moment was when they opened the second period with a 10-1 blitz to post their biggest lead at 15 points, 26-11. They held that only for only a brief moment as the Webmasters replied with a 9-0 spurt to whittle the deficit down to just six points, 20-26, with only 2:09 left before halftime.

They may be smaller and playing without a foreign back-up, but the Webmasters deserved a hearty pat on their backs for their big fighting hearts and tireless pressure defense that badgered the Warriors from the start until the final buzzer.

The Webmasters further rattled the nerves of the Warriors after they pulled within just three points, 49-52, on a 3-pointer by Melvin Butohan to greet the fourth period, but Olago took matter into his own hands to bail the embattled USC side out of danger.

Olago literally carried the Warriors on his broad shoulders in a 15-6 run that gave them some breathing room with a 67-55 lead at the final 1:55 mark of the contest. His explosion was very timely as it came when the offensive engines of Ian Tagapan, Nico Magat, Victor Rabat and Ian ortega all conked out.

Bonifacio Puerto and Justine Dacalos connived for 23 points for the Webmasters, who suffered their third loss in five starts.

Earlier,  Briedyn Aleyth Smith fired 20 points and Alje Mendez hit 18 markers as the USC Baby Warriors spanked the University of Southern Philippine Baby Panthers, 95-78, for their fourth straight victory in the juniors division. The Baby Panthers dropped to 3-2. (FREEMAN)