Darrell Shane Menina of the UC Webmasters is fouled by Gileant Delator of the UV Green Lancers during their game in the Cesafi 2018 at the Cebu Coliseum.
(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Defending champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers fail to dent UC’s streak
Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
1 p.m. – UC vs Don Bosco (High School)
2:30 p.m. – CIT-U vs SHS-AdC (High School)
4 p.m. – SWU vs USJ-R (College)
Streak shooting guard Darrell Shane Menina waxed hot when it mattered the most as he dropped four three-pointers in-a-row to push the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters past the two-time defending champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 72-65, in the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Saturday evening at the Cebu Coliseum.
Struggling from the perimeter for most of the game, the former National University Bulldog found his touch in the nick of time as the third of those flurry of three-pointers put UC in front for good, 62-59, with 3:21 left.
A basket by UV big man Bassieru Sackor pulled them to within one but John Jabello banked in a short jumper and Menina sank a difficult step-back three-pointer to give UC a 67-61 lead, with time down to 1:56.
Menina scored 14 in the fourth and finished with 21 points, five assists and two steals.
Cameroonian forward Frederick Elombe added 15 points, 10 rebounds, a whopping seven steals and four blocked shots while Paul Galinato chipped in 14, spiked by four trifectas.
UC now owns a 5-0 record while UV had their three-game winning streak snapped, dropping to an even 3-3.
Sackor led the team with 16 points.
In the first game, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers escaped with a 73-67 win over the hard-luck Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats.
The loss was heartbreaking for the still-winless Wildcats, which for the second straight game, led by as much as 12 points but faltered in the last two minutes to end the first round without a single win in six tries.
CIT-U led for most of the game and was still in front, 67-63, when USPF’s big men Alje Mendez and Rich Managor scored consecutive baskets to tie the count at 67-all. Karl Marvin Langahin then shoved the Panthers in front, 70-67, with a long triple with 1:12 to go.
The Wildcats had numerous chances to tie the game but misfired on all their attempts from beyond the rainbow arc.
Managor then sealed the win with three free-throws down the stretch.
The Nigerian big man feasted on CIT-U’s diminutive frontline and piled up 25 points and 18 rebounds along with three assists, two blocks and a steal.
Mendez likewise had a field day inside, with 18 points and 12 boards.
The Panthers are now at 4-1.
Rookie sensation Kenny Rogers Rocacurva led the Wildcats with 25 points, making a living from the free-throw stripe, converting 13-of-17 there.
The pride of San Francisco added four steals and four blocks. Veteran marksman Kevin Oleodo added 20 markers, highlighted by five three-pointers.
In the high school division, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers routed the USPF Baby Panthers, 78-60, with Gabriel Cometa firing in 19 points and Popy Actub and Joshua Yerro chipping in 14 apiece.
The University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars also surprised the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, 77-70, as Matthew Paras exploded for 24 points.