SHOWING exactly the courageous fighting spirit that they promised, the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters cut down to size the Malaysian national team, 94-82, at the start of the Cebu City Mayor’s Cup Invitational yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Institute.
Incoming guard Daryl Shane Menina sparked the late breakaway with five straight points inside the final minute highlighted by a filthy crossover that sent his defender sprawling, after which he calmly stepped back and drained a triple to put them up, 89-82, 56.9 seconds to go. He added a breakaway layup and a nifty assist to Justine Dacalos to ice the victory.
In all, Menina had an incredible 37 points, 15 of which came in the final frame. Melvin Butohan added 18 for a feisty UC squad that at times, fielded in a quintet no larger than 5-foot-10.
Malaysia, though, put up a heck of a fight as it turned a 37-46 halftime deficit into a 65-64 lead heading to the final frame behind a fightback led by Yeo Inan, who had 20 markers.
However, iffy ball handling proved to be the visitors’ downfall as turnovers were quickly converted into points by UC.