USJ-R, CIT-U eyeing crucial fourth spot in standings; UC shoots for semis berth in juniors division

IMPORTANT GAMES

Games Today:
Cebu Coliseum
5 p.m. – USP-F vs UC (Jrs.)
6:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs CIT-U (Srs.)

Crucial games with playoff implications are set to be competed in today in both the juniors and seniors division of the 15th Cesafi basketball tournament over at the Cebu Coliseum.

The quarterfinals in the juniors will commence as the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters gun for a berth in the semifinals when they tackle the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers.

UC, which finished the elimination round with the third seed, by virtue of their 5-3 (win-loss) record, will hold a twice-to-beat advantage over the Baby Panthers, who nabbed the sixth seed with four wins against three losses.

UC will be a tough nut to crack with its man in the middle Froilan Mangubat along with a host of reliable players such as Johnbryl Cuyos and Luigi Gabisan.

In the seniors division, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats aim to move ahead in the race for the fourth seed as they take on the reeling University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

Both teams are coming off close losses, setting the stage for one exciting battle between two teams who are aiming to make it to the top four to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

At 3-5, the Wildcats are tied at fourth with the idle UC Webmasters. They will try to get back on track after losing, 76-82, to the Southwestern University Cobras last Saturday.

USJ-R will be no pushover, especially after suffering a heartbreaking 74-78 loss to the University of the Visayas Green Lancers last Friday. Although near the bottom at 2-5, the Jaguars remain within striking distance of the fourth seed.