Antonio Octaviano (green jersey) of the USC Warriors tries to shake off CIT-U’s defense during their Cesafi men’s basketball game. | Glendale Rosal
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors officially entered the winning column after defeating the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats,78-67, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball, on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was another upsetting game for the Wildcats following their 74-point loss to the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters last September 30, 2023, 109-35.
READ: Webmasters win by 74 points vs Wildcats in Cesafi college hoop wars
Gica leads USC Warriors
This time, they almost sealed the game’s outcome with another 20-point beating. Fortunately, they put up some fight in the final period, to somehow finish the game with some valiant efforts despite losing it.
Leading USC’s charge was their elite marksman James Gica who will likely replace the role of the team’s top scorer Froilan Mangubat who spent his final playing year last 2022.
READ: CEC Dragons destroy USC Baby Warriors in Cesafi high school basketball game
USC Warriors’ Gica, Octaviano, Baruc
Gica was on fire after tallying 20 points, nine of which were shot beyond the arc. Clint Anthony Octaviano chipped in 13 points, while Vhann Joshua Baruc added 10 markers in the Warriors’ first win in two games.
Clark Adrian Con-Ui was the lone double-digit scorer for the Wildcats with 22 points. He scored 10 of them in their failed comeback in the final period.
READ: Cesafi: USJ-R Jaguars now 3-0
How USC Warriors stop Wildcats endgame run
The Warriors were already leading by double-digits in the start of the game, but the Wildcats managed to cut it to eight, 36-28, in the first period.
However, the Warriors quickly retaliated a 6-3 run to bring back their lead to double-digits, 42-31, heading into halftime.
USC came out more aggressive after the halftime when they put up a 24-11 run, to close the third period with a 24-point cushion, 66-42.
They maintained their huge lead midway in the final period when the Wildcats came alive and cut the lead to 14, 71-64.
Still, it was a little too late for the Wildcats of head coach Gerry Cavan as their comeback came in the dying minutes of the game which ultimately resulted to their second straight loss in the league.
READ: NCAA: John Barba’s explosion a testament to Lyceum’s ‘unpredictability’