USC Warriors notch first win in CESAFI cage wars

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors outclassed the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats,78-67, to barge into the win column in the 23rd Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

James Paolo Gica sank three 3-pointers of his topscoring 20 points, while Clint Anthony Octaviano and Vhann Joshua Baruc connived for 23 markers in USC’s wire-to-wire victory.

The Warriors were never threatened since jumping off to a hot 24-7 start, which ballooned to 24 points, 66-42, after three quarters.

The wards of coach Paul Joven then quelled a spirited endgame fightback by the Wildcats to preserve a double-digit victory.

Clark Adrian Con-ui fired a game-high 22 points but to no avail as the Wildcats suffered their second straight loss.

In the juniors division, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Blue Dragons kept on spewing fire, this time to scorch the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 75-40, and stay unbeaten after two starts.

Caelan Mack once again carried CEC on his shoulders, dropping 13 of his game-high 23 points in an explosive 30-13 run in the second quarter that turned their early 21-15 lead into a 23-point bubble at the break, 51-28.

After mellowing down in the third period, the Dragons of coach Rodmark del Rosario waxed hot again in the windup where they tallied 16 markers while holding off the Baby Warriors to a paltry four points to come up with a 35-point cakewalk.

It was a rousing follow-up of CEC’s masterful 68-46 demolition of the Don Bosco Greywolves during the league’s season-opener last September 23.

The Dragons are expected to face a tough challenge in their next assignment as they take on fellow undefeated team University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 7.

The UCLM Baby Webmasters are currently on top of the juniors division standings with a perfect 3-0 record.