Frederick Elombi of the UC Webmasters soars for a layup in a semis game against USJ-R at the Cebu Coliseum.
CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO
The University of Cebu (UC) seized the day as its high school and collegiate basketball squads extended their respective campaigns for a day longer with rousing wins over their counterparts from the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) at the start of the playoffs in the 17th Cesafi basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Webmasters dealt the Jaguars in an 81-70 loss to force a winner-take-all match in the semifinals of the college division.
The Junior Webmasters, on the other hand, moved up in the stepladder playoffs in the high school competition after ousting the Baby Jaguars, 87-73.
In the college game, UC turned the tide in its favor late in the first half with a searing 15-4 run sparked by Cameroonian powerhouse Frederick Elombi, John Jabello and Justine Dacalos, to head to the dugout with a 46-34 advantage.
The Webmasters then stepped on the gas even more in the third, which they ended with a buzzer-beating corner jumper by JR Puerto to give them an even 20-point lead, 68-48, heading to the final canto.
An 18-3 run by the Jaguars late in the fourth brought the margin to a respectable level after it grew to a high of 26.
UC’s local crew stepped up in a huge way as Puerto put up 20 points, five rebounds and three blocks. For the first time this season, Elombi took a backseat as he had just 19 markers, 10 rebounds and three steals.
Joren Tagudin drained three triples en route to scoring 14 while Jabello added 12. Lead guard Justine Dacalos tallied 11 points, seven boards, five dimes and five steals to help the Webmasters send the semis match-up to a do-or-die game this Saturday.
UC’s defense also played a key role in getting them the win as they held leading MVP contender Jaybie Mantilla to just 13 points on a woeful 3-of-12 clip. His runningmate, RJ Dinolan, fared no better as he had just 10, and missed eight of his 11 attempts.
In the high school game, UC broke the game wide open with a huge 14-3 run that gave them an 83-65 lead with under five minutes left in the game.
John Bryl Cuyos and Allan Pelegrino sparked that game-breaking rally as they accounted for all but a single point to help UC get the crucial win.
Their prize? A date with the four-time defending champions SHS-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles in what is essentially a rematch of the finals in each of the last two seasons.
Making the task even more daunting is the twice-to-beat bonus that the Eagles will be armed with in the match-up.
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