CESAFI: USJR upsets defending champion SWU in OT

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars prevailed in overtime to upset the defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 68-63, on Sunday, September 13 at the New Cebu Coliseum to stay in contention for the Final Four in the ongoing CESAFI seniors men’s basketball tournament.

SWU’s loss hands the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers a solo spot in second place after the latter dealt the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers their tenth loss in a row, 84-49.

The other collegiate match saw the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) once again outsmart the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters for the second time, 76-69.

The Cobras drop to third place in the standings with its 7-3 card while the Jaguars, who are now on a two-game winning streak, improve their win-loss record to 4-5 and is currently sitting in the fourth spot.

The Wildcats 4-6 record sits them at fifth place while the Webmasters fall to sixth place with their 3-6 card.

So far, the Panthers return to the collegiate ballgame have not yielded any wins.

USJR Jaguars Upset SWU Cobras

With Ralph Jude Dinolan, named best player twice in the second round of eliminations, missing his cues, veteran playmaker Kevin Rey Villafranca stepped in to lead the Jaguars with 19 points, 9 rebounds and two blocks. He got tremendous help from Juan Miguel Gastador who contributed 17 and Jaybie Mantilla with 10 points.

The Cobras were towed by two-time Most Valuable Player Mark Jayven “Mac-Mac” Tallo who chipped in 21 points with Juju Bautista and Jovanie Luz adding 12 points apiece.

After having just 9 players in the lineup, the Cobras were down to 8 with Jan Michael Auditor, who has also been named best player twice this season, sitting out due to an injury in his left shoulder, which he said he over-extended in their game against USPF.

The Cobras started on an 8-0 run anchored on the back-to-back triples of Tallo and Melvin Holper but the Jaguars immediately got into the game with Villafranca sinking four straight points as soon as he was fielded in with four minutes remaining in the first quarter.

A rainbow shot from Mantilla brought the Jaguars in a 10-all tie with the Cobras and another from Gastador gave the Jaguars the lead at the end of the first canto, 10-13.

The Jaguars streaked to a 10-point lead in the second quarter but Bautista led a Cobras rally to eventually bring them abreast of the Jaguars at 24-all on back-to-back baskets from Bautista himself.

Both teams eventually deadlocked at 26-all at the end of the first half.

The Cobras took over the upperhand in the third canto, the highest at 4 points on Tallo’s basket at the 6:21 mark. The MVP kept the Cobras ahead until with 3 minutes left going into the final quarter when Gastador attempted a shot from beyond the arc and was fouled. He then converted his 3 charities for the fourth tie of the game at 38-all.

The third quarter ended with the Jaguars enjoying a two-point lead, 42-40.

With the Jaguars holding on to a five-point lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Cobras in penalty, Dinolan lost the ball and missed the chance to further pull the Jaguars ahead.

With 25 seconds left and the Jaguars leading by just a basket, 56-54, Tallo sank two crucial points via his charities which he earned when he was fouled by Villafranca for a 56-all.

With 20 seconds left, the Jaguars rotated the ball and sent it to Villafranca who missed his attempt and thus the five-minute extension.

Luz opened the extra five minutes with a triple to bring the Cobras up by three, 59-56, but the Jaguars was able to wrestle the lead with Mantilla, who draw a foul from Luz, sinking his gift shots.

Mark Labares and Villafranca then gave the Jaguars a breathing room at 65-59 with a minute and 27 seconds left.

Tallo scored four straight points but it wasn’t enough to swing the game’s momentum into their favor especially that Luz attempted a trey but missed.

CIT-U Wildcats too much for UC Webmasters

Both teams had a slow start and missed their attempts that the first quarter ended with just 6-4 in favor of the Wildcats.

They then came to life in the next quarter to tie the game twice before the Webmaster surge ahead to erect a seven-point advantage, 25-18, capped by triples from Melvin Butohan and Justine Dacalos with 3 minutes left going into the break.

The first half ended with the Webmasters holding on to a 6-point lead, 29-23.

With Joeferio Kristoffer Mumar back from suspension after paying the P5,000 penalty, and Jose Allan Dimco finding his mark lately, league points leader Joshua Romelle dela Cerna was not fielded in until the 6-minute mark of the third quarter to replace Jesse Aloro Jr., and immediately made a difference with his basket at the 5:01 mark tying the game at 34-all.

Peter Paul Codilla, Dacalos and Garciano Puerto Jr. kept the Webmasters close at 46-48 at the end of the third quarter.

The final canto saw the Wildcats pulling away with a 9-point lead, 67-58, with 3:43 remaining.

A scuffle below the net resulted to blood spurting out of Dacalos’ left brow when he was hit by Dimco’s elbow who was grabbing a rebound. After getting his wound taped, Dacalos went back but by then it was already too late to stop the Wildcats from winning.

Dimco was once again hailed as the best player with his double-double performance of 24 points and 19 rebounds. Jeffrey Taghoy chipped in 13 points while Dela Cerna finished with 12 points.

Puerto led the Webmasters with 16 points while Dacalos and Butohan added 15 and 14 points, respectively.

UV Lancers Nails Third Straight Win

Rey Anthony Suerte, who started the scoring for the Green Lancers, was picked as the best player with his 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. He got help from former Philippine youth team member Leonard Santillan who finished with 12 points.

Lyndon Colina carried the bulk of the Panthers’ score with 21 points. No other Panther finished in double figures.

The Panthers stayed with the Green Lancers at the start of the ballgame even taking a one-point lead, 19-18, going into the second quarter.

However, Santillan, who scored a total of eight points in the second quarter alone, made sure that the Green Lancers would be at a safe distance which they did with a 10-point lead, 42-32, at the break.

The game was halted two minutes into the second half when the heavy downpour had rainwater trickling from the roof into the court making it slippery and dangerous for the players. After 7 minutes, the game resumed with the Green Lancers advantage ballooning to 20 points which they maintained going into the final canto, 60-40.

The Panthers could only watched helplessly as the Green Lancers continued to pile on their points until they eventually sealed their win with a 35-point advantage.

Game Schedule 

Tuesday, September 15 at New Cebu Coliseum

5:15 PM – SHS-AdC vs UV (Juniors Semifinals, Game 1)

6:45 PM – USJR vs USC (Seniors)

 

Scores:

First game

UV (84) – Suerte 15, Santillan 12, Cabañero 9, Manzo 8, Arong 8, Aguirre 7, Segumpan 7, Napao 6, Akomo 4, Codilla 4, Balabag 2, Mendoza 2, Veloso 0.

USPF (49) – Colina 21, Borces 5, Sastrillas 5, Alocillo 5, Bajamunde 3, Langahin 3, Patalinghug 3, Bolivar 2, Quiachon 2, Avanceña 0, Ceniza 0, Laver 0, Cando 0.

Quarter Scores: 18-19; 42-32; 60-40; 84-49.

Second Game:

CIT-U (76) – Dimco 24, Taghoy 13, Dela Cerna 12, Sanchez 8, Pono 7, Aloro 6, Lucena 4, Bucao 2, Mumar 0, Muñez 0, Kong 0.

UC (69) – Puerto 16, Dacalos 15, Butohan 14, Culango 7, Montilla 6, Suelto 5, Codilla 3, Jabello 2, Mayol 0, Tagudin 0, Grafilo 0, Luzares 0, Dumat-ol 0.

Quarter Scores: 6-4; 23-29; 48-46; 76-69.

Third Game:

USJ-R (68) – Villafranca 19, Gastador 17, Mantilla 10, Dinolan 7, Peromingan 7, Labares 6, Navarra 2, Senining 0, Bayhonan 0, Risma 0, Moral 0.

SWU (63) – Tallo 21, Bautista 12, Luz 12, Racho 9, Holper 5, Gonzaga 2, Pardo 0, Clam 0.

Quarter Scores: 13-10; 26-26; 42-40; 56-56; 68-63. – Rappler.com