The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers kept their unblemished record as they edged the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers, 71-70, in the elimination round of the CloudFone Batang PBA Cebu yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Institute.
The Baby Panthers were on the verge of authoring yet another monumental upset in this unpredictable tournament as they led, 65-65, after a triple by Gabriel Cometa.
UV had a brief rally but USP-F kept its composure and still led, 70-65, after a three pointer by Christopher Isabelo.
But UV tightened up the screws on its defense and forced a turnover that led to a trey by ZJ Enriquez to trim the lead to two, 68-70, with 1:52 to go.
After forcing a 24-second shot clock violation, Joshua Canoy hit the game-winning rainbow bomb with 19 seconds left that gave UV its fourth win in as many games.
USP-F fell to a tie for fourth place and the last ticket to the semis with Abellana National School with a 1-3 (win-loss).
Meanwhile, Don Bosco Technical College Inc. kept the momentum going and shocked Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, 54-51, to forge a three-way tie for second place at 2-2.
Don Bosco trailed by as many as eight in the final canto, 41-49, but made a huge comeback behind prized recruit Christian Boyboy and Juan Miguel dela Torre, who scored the go-ahead bucket while getting fouled in the game’s waning moments.
Tied at 51-all after two free-throws from Geo Ibero, the Greywolves grabbed possession back after forcing the Magis Eagles into a 24-second violation.
On their offensive, dela Torre grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in while getting fouled to put his team in front, 53-51, 13 seconds to go. He made the bonus freethrows to peg the final tally.
Boyboy and dela Torre finished the game with 14 points each.
Finally, the University of San Carlos routed ANS, 82-72, behind Genald Inigo’s 25 points. Clint Octaviano also managed 17 markers to help USC even its record up at 2-2.