USJ-R head coach wants players to focus on game at hand

Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
(HIGH SCHOOL)
1:00 PM – USPF vs SWU-PHINMA
2:30 PM – USJ-R vs CIT-U
(COLLEGE)
4:00 PM – USJ-R vs USPF
5:30 PM – CIT-U vs SWU-PHINMA

AFTER vanquishing the league-leading University of Cebu (UC) last Thursday, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars turn their attention to the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers on Saturday, looking for a top two finish in the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament.

Game time is slated at 4 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum with the 7-3 (win-loss) Jaguars looking to tie the idle University of the Visayas (8-3) for second place. In spite of the loss, UC remains at the top of the standings at 9-2.

The top two finishers at the end of the elimination round will head to the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage over the third and fourth ranked teams.

USJ-R head coach Leode Garcia is well aware of the situation involving the league’s top three teams. However, he implored his team to train their focus on the team opposing them.

“We can’t do anything about the game between UV and UC. For our part, we just need to win our remaining games,” said Garcia.

In the high school games on Friday, the UC Baby Webmasters nabbed their seventh win in eight games after they beat the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 54-41.

Justine Mondares was on fire from beyond the arc as he made seven three pointers for a game-high 21 points.

USC, which got 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks from Clint Octaviano, dropped to 5-2.

The UV Baby Lancers also hiked their record up to 7-0 after beating the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 96-87.

Popoy Actub and Gabriel Cometa took over down the stretch, hitting one clutch shot after another to help the Baby Lancers keep their bid for an outright spot in the finals alive.

Actub had 28 points and 10 rebounds while Cometa added 27.