UC’s JR Puerto lays it up over a USPF defender in yesterday’s game at the Cebu Coliseum. (CONTRIBUTED)
UC finishes strong to outlast USPF and give new head coach first victory
The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters sped away in the game’s dying minutes to pocket a 103-92 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in a high-spirited affair in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Down 83-84 with less than five minutes remaining, the Webmasters uncorked a 20-8 run to end the game on top and give new head coach Kern Sesante his very first win in the league.
The short but sensational backcourt tandem of Gileant Delator and Justine Dacalos did the most damage as the latter had 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals while Dacalos had a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards peppered by six assists. Jhan Calvin Jabello also pitched in 14.
Dacalos sparked the game-sealing run with a lay-up which was followed by a corner triple from Mark Olmilla. JR Puerto later added a transition bucket while Delator found a cutting Fil Culango for a lay-in for a 92-86 lead with 1:40 to go.
Kimo Bajamunde gave the Panthers a sliver of hope with two free throws that cut the deficit to four but Delator countered with two freebies and an unmolested lay-in while Dacalos and Clint Suerte connected from the free-throw line to raise the lead to 11, 99-88, time down to a minute.
Bajamunde paced USPF with 17 points while Roy Quiatchon chipped in 16. Lyndon Colina also had 15.
In the juniors division, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles started off their bid for a fourth straight championship in style as they crushed the USPF Baby Panthers, 113-80.
The Magis Eagles were in a neck-and-neck battle with the resilient Baby Panthers and led by just two, 44-42, at halftime. But they ratcheted their game up in the third and blew away USPF, 30-16, behind the offensive brilliance of Patrick Yu and reigning MVP, Jed Colonia who combined 16 during that sizzling stretch.
Yu finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists while big man Christian Manaytay provided a steady presence down low with 16 points and five boards.