Players from SHS-AdC and UC scramble to get a ball possession during their Cesafi high school division showdown at the Cebu Coliseum. CDN PHOTO LITO TECSON
Defensive guard Justin Javelosa sparked the pull-away and reigning league MVP Jed Colonia and athletic big man Christian Manaytay finished it as the four-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles clobbered the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 66-52, in the 17th Cesafi high school basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Often tasked with defending the opposing team’s best perimeter player, Javelosa showcased his offensive prowess, scoring seven of his 17 points in the fourth period to fuel the Magis Eagles’ breakaway. He also hustled his way to nine rebounds.
Colonia, nearly back to form after recovering from a knee injury, scored 12 markers and added nine boards, three assists and three steals, to help Ateneo de Cebu notch a win over its opponent in the finals of the last two seasons.
Ateneo de Cebu pushed its record to 6-1 (win-loss) but still trail the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, which routed the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers, 96-85, to stay unbeaten in seven games.
Two more wins would give UV a sweep of the elimination round and an automatic spot in the championship game.
Froiland Maglasang led five Baby Lancers in double-figures with 19 points.
The Magis Eagles led by as much as 13, led by just four, 48-44, heading to the final canto. But Javelosa rose to the occasion and hit a triple from the wing and added a long two from the other side to raise their lead to nine, 53-44.
Several plays later, he snuck inside, snatched the offensive board and put it back in to bring Ateneo de Cebu’s lead to 10, 57-47, five minutes remaining.
Manaytay, Colonia and Patrick Yu then sealed the victory for Ateneo de Cebu with a 9-2 run capped by a corner triple from the latter for a 66-51 lead, 1:33 to go.
Virlou Orquez led UC with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. However, UC shot themselves in the foot by shooting 2-of-24 from beyond the arc and 22-of-36 from the free-throw line.
In the college division, rookie forward John Reel Saycon once again came to University of San Carlos’ rescue as his four-point play with 20 seconds left lifted the Warriors past the resilient Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats, 59-55.
USC improved to 6-2 while CIT-U fell to 1-7.
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