THE ORGANIQUE-UNIVERSITY of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers extended the misery of the Cebu Landmasters-University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors as they sent the latter reeling with a 63-57 defeat in the 2018 Cesafi Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win was the Panthers’ third in a row to put them into a tie for second place with the University of the Visayas (UV) at 3-0 (win-loss).
In contrast, the loss was USC’s fourth in a row and third straight after losing top player, John Reel Saycon, to a tournament-long suspension.
The Warriors got off to a fast start as they led, 16-12, after the first.
However, the speedy Panthers got into a groove and eventually grabbed the upper hand, 47-45, after a three-pointer from Kris Yap in the waning seconds of the third.
Eight straight points at the start of the fourth, half of which came from much-improved forward RR Cauba, gave USPF a 10-point advantage, 55-45, with 8:14 left in the game.
USC trimmed it in half, 50-55, but Nigerian center Rich Managor put a stop to the bleeding, sinking a triple from the right wing before cat-quick guard Greggy Sarahina eluded two defenders with a slick crossover dribble and went all the way in for a lefty layup that pushed the Panthers back up by 10, 60-50, with 4:15 to go.
Managor, back in the roster after missing most of last season with a torn ACL, led the way for USPF with 22 points while Cauba pitched in 11. Ajie Mendez contributed 10.
Luigi Gabisan had 13 to pace the Warriors.
In the high school division, the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters made short work of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens, 85-62, for their third win in four games.