USC downs depleted SWU in Cesafi finals rematch

Charles Pepito (19) of the University of San Carlos Warriors completes a breakaway lay-up in their game against the Southwestern University in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors got their revenge early as they essayed a 76-64 victory over the defending champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Undermanned, as they have only nine players suiting up for this season, the Cobras were far from easy prey as they came back from an 18-point third period deficit and took a 59-56 lead at the midway point of the final frame after a three-point play by rookie forward Juju Bautista and a baseline jumper by Mac Racho.

But the Warriors simply had too much firepower as they countered with a keyhole jumpshot from Mavii Suarez, a transition lay-up by Victor Rabat, a triple by Nico Magat and an inside bucket by Cameroonian Shooster Olago to take a 65-59 advantage. After the Cobras stopped the bleeding with a basket by Melvin Holper, USC forward Charles Pepito banked in a shot while getting fouled for a three-point play that pushed the lead to seven, 68-61, 2:56 to go.

In all, the Warriors finished the game with a resounding 20-5 run. The win gave USC a measure of revenge after losing to SWU in a tough five-game championship series last year.

Olago had a field day with SWU’s undersized frontline which he torched for 14 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. Magat led the team in scoring with 16, Pepito had 12 while Ian Tagapan tallied 11.

Reigning league MVP Mac Tallo paced the besieged Cobras with 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals but did not do the team any favors in committing seven turnovers. John Lloyd Luz chipped in 12 while Holper, the brother of former PBA player Mike Holper, contributed 11 spiked by three triples.

The USC Baby Warriors also scored an easy win after they pulled off a a merciless 102-33 win over Don Bosco.

CIT FORFEITS GAMES
Meanwhile, in what could be considered a first in league history, the juniors and seniors teams of Cebu Institute of Technology-University forfeited their opening games after the school failed to submit the players’ electrocardiogram (ECG) results.

The announcement was made by league commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy a few hours before the start of yesterday’s four-game bill. “Games of CIT-U juniors and seniors are forfeited in favor of their opponents for failing to submit on time their players’ ECG results,” Tiukinhoy said.

According to a source within the team, the team only had their ECG test on Saturday with the results being made available on Tuesday.

In June, the league mandated that all players must submit an ECG certificate before they’re allowed to play. The rule was made to avoid unfortunate events such as the tragic death of Jose Rizal University high school player Carl Jimwell “CJ” Servillon during a game in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup in May. The 6-foot-1 Servillon, passed away just days after collapsing in the middle of a timeout during a match versus La Salle-Zobel.

THE SCORES
USC (76) Magat 16, Olago 14, Pepito 12, Tagapan 11, Suarez 9, Ortega 6, Rabat 5, Lim 5, Laguyo 3
SWU (64) Tallo 14, Luz 12, Holper 11, Racho 9, Pardo 9, Bautista 5, Auditor 4
Quarter scores: 20-16, 32-26, 50-49, 76-64.

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