CEBU, Philippines — By mere coincidence on Halloween, expect the Cebu Coliseum to be transformed into a suspense theater as the league leaders both in high school and college divisions will collide against each other in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament today, October 31.
The centerpiece of the exciting double-header features the Grand Slam-seeking University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in a hotly anticipated clash of league titans at 6:45 p.m.
For sure, it’s going to be a grudge rematch between the bitter rivals who faced each other in the Finals during the past two seasons, with the Lancers coming out victorious in both occasions.
Now, they are seemingly headed to that same direction.
The Lancers currently sport an immaculate 5-0 slate, while the Webmasters are unscathed in four starts.
Aside from the keeping their position on top of the table, the Lancers and the Webmasters also seek to enhance their bid of clinching the No.1 spot going into the semifinal round.
Before the UV-UC duel, the UC Baby Webmasters and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars will lock horns at 5:15 p.m. for the solo lead in the juniors category.
At the moment, the Baby Webmasters and the Baby Jaguars are in a three-way tie with the two-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles on identical 6-1 win-loss records.
The Baby Webmasters and the Baby Jaguars are aiming for a crucial win to enhance their Final Four chances considering the very tight race to the semis wherein the 6-2 Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons and the 5-2 UV Baby Lancers are in the mix.
Meanwhile, in last Tuesday’s games, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) pulled off another twinkill.
Neon Chavez dropped 23 points on top of nine rebounds, four assists and two steals while Paul Daniell Apolonio punched a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds as the USPF Panthers outgunned the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs, 84-79, for their second win in five games.
The Baby Panthers, on the other hand, improved to 4-3 with an 87-64 rout of the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, thanks to a great team effort led by Champ Davidson Brigoli with 19 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal.