CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats delivered what is by far the biggest upset in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament after they overhauled an 18-point deficit in the first half to stun the previously undefeated University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 65-61, on Sunday, October 13, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Trailing 30-48 late in the second period, the Baby Wildcats rattled seven straight points and then carried on their blazing counter-attack after the halftime break to knot the count at 54-all going into the final 10-minute mark.
The Baby Wildcats continued to pounce on the Baby Lancers to virtually put the game in the bag with a 64-55 advantage on two free throws by Daniel Chase Mapula with a little over two minutes left to play.
UV pulled within just three points, 61-64, but time wasn t on their side.
Kieff Russel Suarez split his charities in the last 9.5 seconds but it was more than enough to seal the deal for the Baby Wildcats.
Suarez finished with 18 points, while Mapula and Ryko John Batuigas both produced a solid double-double as the Baby Wildcats evened their record at 2-2.
Mapula pumped in 17 points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and four steals, while Batuigas also had 17 points on top of 11 rebounds.
Christophelcian Abella was the lone double-digit scorer with 17 points, seven rebounds, one assist, and three steals for the Baby Lancers, who saw their three-game winning streak come to a sudden red stop.
Meanwhile, in last Saturday s action, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters again used a balanced attack to whip the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 60-47, and take the temporary lead in college division standings with an immaculate 3-0 slate.
Only two of the 15 players fielded in by coach Kernn Sesante did not hit the scoring chart for the Webmasters, who surged to an early 20-9 lead that went as high as 17 points, 60-43, in the closing seconds of the lopsided contest.
Aside from their free-flowing offense, the Webmasters were also dominant in rebounding department where they overpowered the Panthers, 66-33.
In high school play, Froilan Maglasang sparkled with 17 points, one rebound, four assists and three steals while Coriantumr Cabantog added 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks as the Grand Slam-seeking Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles pummeled the slumping University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM), 82-67.
Alden Cainglet scored 12, Lars Fjellvang posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Jelomar Rota contributed 10 points, five rebounds, and three steals for the Magis Eagles, who soared totheir straight win after a season-opening setback.