USPF’s Kyle Niño Ochavo drives to the basket against the UC defense in a high school semifinal game at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. CDN Digital photo | Gerard Vincent Francisco
Cebu City, Philippines—The University of Southern Philippine Foundation (USPF) clawed back from 17 points down and beat the defending champion University of Cebu (UC), 82-77, in a semifinal game of the Cesafi high school basketball tournament on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Baby Panthers’ victory erased the twice-to-beat edge of the Baby Webmasters in the semifinal round, which means both teams will meet in a knockout game to determine who will advance to the championship round.
The knockout game will be set on Saturday, November 16, at the same venue.
Kyle Niño Ochavo led USPF’s comeback as he scored 30 points in the win.
He also made the shot that tied the score at 63 at the end of regulation.
Watch Ochavo’s heroics here:
Check out what Ochavo had to say after the game:
The Baby Webmasters waxed hot and controlled the game in the first three quarters.
They ended the first quarter with a seven-point lead, 17-10, which they increased to 12 points, 35-23, going into the halftime break.
They continued to demolish the Baby Panthers, posting their highest lead at 17 points four times including at the end of the third canto, 52-35.
However, Ochavo, who already had 19 points, started the final canto with six straight points to bring down UC’s lead to just 11 points, 52-41.
The Baby Panthers continued the onslaught until the Baby Webmasters lead was cut to just one point, 52-51, on a basket by Elijah Singson.
Maczi Micutuan and Rey James Enriquez combined to bring back the lead to their side at 59-56 but Singson tied it at 59-all.
Isaiah Blanco raised hopes for UC by taking the lead at 63-61 but Ochavo forced the first overtime at 63-all.
In the second overtime, both teams went neck-to-neck but USPF managed to take a one basket lead at 68-66.
This time it was Blanco who forced a second overtime at 68-all when he converted his two gift shots.
The Baby Webmasters, however, had no answer for another Baby Panthers’ onslaught and USPF surged on to win the game.
BOXSCORES:
USPF Baby Panthers (82) – Ochavo 30, E. Singson 16, Suello 13, Octaviano 9, Soco 4, Yap 4, Espina 3, Atunay 2, Singson 2.
UC Baby Webmasters (77) – Leonard 22, Micutuan 16, Blanco 15, Gako 6, Balaga 5, Acenas 3, Pondoc 3, Sevillejo 3, Enriquez 2, Lapiz 2. /bmjo
Missed the game? Watch it here via Cesafi Live.