Mustangs escape Maroons with a thrilling win in men’s Cesafi hoop battles

CRMC head coach Paul Alelu Flores talking to his players after beating UP-Cebu in Cesafi men’s basketball. | Glendale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College (CRMC) Mustangs eked out a hard-fought victory against the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons, 76-74, in the ongoing Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.

The victory improved the Mustangs’ record to three wins with four losses, while UP Cebu absorbed their fourth loss in five games.

The Mustangs now have back-to-back wins, after they stunned the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 74-54, last Sunday.

READ: Cesafi 2023: CRMC Mustangs shock USC Warriors 

Dalumpines leads Mustangs

Team captain and point guard Paolo Dalumpines led the Mustangs with 15 points, including two crucial free throws in the dying seconds of the game that kept his team ahead until the final buzzer sounded. 

Keaton Clyde Taburnal scored 15 points, while Jerome Arboiz added 10 markers.

UP Cebu’s bigman Aaron Kres spoiled his 18-point outing, so did Niño Sarol and Willy Castro’s 13 points apiece, and AJ Delos Reyes’s 10. 

READ: Keaton Taburnal of CRMC Mustangs suspended for two games by Cesafi

Mustangs ahead at first half of the game

During the game, CRMC was ahead throughout the first half, 45-39.

However, the Fighting Maroons kept coming back and managed to tie the game twice in the third period, before they eventually grabbed the lead 60-59, in the start of the final period. 

UP-Cebu was clinging to a one-point lead, 71-72, but got into foul trouble, forcing them into penalty. It sent Arboiz to the free throw line after being fouled by Sarol.

READ: Cesafi men’s basketball: Gabines trey gives Cheetahs a close win against Mustangs

Crucial free throws

Arboiz sank both free throws that put CRMC ahead, 73-72. 

Dalumpines then made it a two-point game, 74-72, when he was sent to the charity stripe and ended up splitting his two attempts. 

With the game on the line, the Fighting Maroons answered them with a putback from Castro with 6.9 ticks left, tying the game at 74-all. 

READ: With loss diluting their league dominance, Maroons pick up lessons and ready to start anew

Reach-in foul seals the game

Unfortunately, Sarol was called for a reach-in foul in the next ball possession, sending Dalumpines to the charity stripe.

Dalumpines then converted both his attempts to come up with the final score, 76-74.

Castro had a good look and was able to fire a trey in the dying seconds, but didn’t hit iron.