The University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors authored the biggest upset in the high school competition so far as they took down last year’s runners-up, the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 67-60, in the 16th Cesafi juniors basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
With UC’s ace Luigi Gabisan playing at less than 100 percent due to an injury, USC pounced and led early before weathering a furious comeback try by the Webmasters to register just their second victory this season.
Steven Mendoza led USC with 13 points and six rebounds before fouling out with three minutes left in the ballgame.
Clint Anthony Octaviano also stepped up with 12 points, five boards, four assists and two steals while Gerald Inigo fired 12 markers, while adding a whopping seven steals.
With UC looking vulnerable, USC grabbed a 16-7 lead after the first before raising it to an even 10, 34-24, at halftime. But the Baby Webmasters rallied behind diminutive
court general Gelmart Umpad to slice the deficit down to 48-49 heading to the final frame.
The two teams went back and forth in the game’s final moments but USC just had too much firepower as Aljhey Barliso and Inigo came up with clutch buckets and combined for 13 in the fourth to give USC the morale-boosting win.
The loss was UC’s second straight which pulled its record down to 5-3. Umpad gallantly carried the Baby Webmasters’ offense with 19 points but it was not enough with Gabisan ending up with a mere two points on 0-for-10 shooting.
Meanwhile, in the college division, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers made UC’s day even worse as they outlasted the Webmasters, 70-67.
USPF led by as much as 18 but the Webmasters made a spirited comeback in the fourth, pulling to within 65-68 after a free-throw by Gileant Delator, 1:11 to go.
UC had several chances to come closer but Jhan Jabello lost the ball on one possession and Justine Dacalos forced up a bad shot on another which led to a free-throw by Kenneth Cada which gave USPF a 69-65 lead.
Roy Quiatchon had 18 points, four rebounds and four steals for the Panthers while Jayson Cando added 11, five boards and three steals.
Both USPF and UC now tote identical 2-6 cards.