‘NOT OVER YET’

UC head coach expects Ateneo de Cebu to bounce back in Game 2 of Finals

Games Thursday:
Cebu Coliseum
Juniors, Finals, Game 2
5 p.m. – UC vs SHS-Ateneo de Cebu
Seniors, For Third, Game 2
6:30 p.m. – SWU vs USJ-R
University of Cebu’s (UC) head coach Joever Samonte is preparing his wards for a tougher battle in Game 2 of the Cesafi best-of-three juniors division finals  against the two-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles today (Thursday) at the Cebu Coliseum.
“Ateneo de Cebu will bounce back,” Samonte said. “They’re a very strong team. So it’s on us to get ourselves prepared for that.”
Samonte’s  Baby Webmasters shocked the Magis Eagles – and the rest of Cebu’s basketball community – with a resounding 73-63 victory in Game 1, one that put them within a victory away from clinching the coveted juniors crown.
Showing that at times, heart prevails over height, Gelmart Umpad – 4-foot-10 with shoes on – was the lynchpin of UC’s win as he scored six of his 14 points in crunchtime.
His backcourt mate, Froilan Mangubat, was excellent all game long as he compiled 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals.
But UC should be wary of the Magis Eagles, a team replete with championship experience and composure, though that was not so evident in their series-opener as admitted by their coach.
“We didn’t play Ateneo basketball. We did not play our game. Nag-kanya-kanya na sila. Tira ng tira at walang depensa. That is not how we play,” said Ateneo de Cebu head coach Rommel Rasmo. “But we also have to give credit to UC and head coach (Joever) Samonte. They played very well on both ends of the floor.”
As stellar as UC’s offense was, it was their defense that carried them to the victory as they held down the Magis Eagles’ main weapons to subpar performances.  Errol Pastor finished with just 11 on 5-of-13 shooting while Jed Colonia – a former Batang Gilas guard – had just nine, missing all but four of his 13 attempts from the field.