Players from Ateneo de Cebu and UC battle for the looseball in a Cesafi juniors semis game at the Cebu Coliseum.
(CDN Photo/Lito Tecson)
FOUR-TIME defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles barged into the Cesafi juniors basketball finals for the seventh straight year but had to overcome a strong showing by the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters to come away with a 64-61 victory on Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Magis Eagles will face in the best-of-three finals bitter rivals University of the Visayas Baby Lancers. Game 1 will be on Tuesday.
Ateneo de Cebu big man Christian Manaytay led Ateneo de Cebu with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds while Franz Diaz pitched in 10 points, four boards and three steals. Patrick Wilson Yu also had 10 along with six boards and two blocked shots.
UC led, 61-60, before Manaytay gave the lead back to the Magis Eagles with a nifty up-and-under move.
Diaz then added a short jumper from the baseline to give Ateneo de Cebu a 64-61 lead.
UC had a shot to tie or pull closer but Dexter Villasan lost control of the ball on his drive along the baseline.
Ateneo de Cebu’s Jed Colonia left the door ajar for UC by missing two free throws with 5.7 seconds to go.
But Virlou Orquez could not save the day for UC as his potential game-tying triple rimmed in and out at the final buzzer.