GAMES TODAY (CEBU COLISEUM)
(HIGH SCHOOL)
1 P.M. – UV VS DON BOSCO
2:30 P.M. – UC VS CEC
4 P.M. – USC VS ATENEO DE CEBU
(COLLEGE)
5:30 P.M. – UV VS UC
THE University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars brightened up their chances for a top two finish and muddled the Final Four hopes of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) as they walloped the Panthers, 84-73, in the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win, USJ-R’s eighth in 11 games, pushed their drive for a top two finish that would net them a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round.
The loss on the other hand, put USPF in a precarious position at 5-7.
Although the Panthers remain in the fourth spot, the University of San Carlos are just half-a-game away at 4-7 with one more game to play against Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma on Tuesday.
The Jaguars were ahead by only five, 59-54, but raised their lead to 17, 73-56, behind a sizzling 15-2 blast anchored on the makes of reigning league MVP Jaybie Mantilla, Nigerian big man Segamars Ewenike, RJ Dinolan and Nichole Ubalde.
Even with Nigerian forward Rich Managor sitting on the sidelines after fouling out, USPF fought to within seven, 68-75, with 2:55 to go.
But USJ-R did not blink and sealed the win with a layup from Dinolan and pull-up jumpers from Mantilla and Elmer Echavez that gave them an 81-68 lead with 1:25 to go.
Mantilla continued his bid for a second straight MVP award as he tallied 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Miguel Gastador and Ewenike had 13 points each, the latter adding 13 rebounds, four steals and six blocked shots.
Ubalde chipped in 10 markers and eight boards.
Managor paced USPF with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
The Panthers, however, just could not sustain their momentum from the first round as they finished the second with just one win against five losses.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats nailed their third win in the tournament by squeaking past SWU-Phinma, 71-68. CIT-U now totes a 3-8 card while SWU drops to 2-9.
In the high school division, USPF won over SWU-Phinma, 62-41, while USJ-R beat CIT-U, 73-60. Matthew Paras led the Baby Jaguars in scoring with 17 points but it was Kendrick Abarquez that filled the stat sheet with 11 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three steals and six blocks.
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