Magis Eagles inch closer to third straight CESAFI juniors title

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Defending champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles inch closer to its third juniors title in the men’s basketball tournament of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) as they swept their elimination games with a 70-54 annihilation of the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons Saturday, September 5 at the New Cebu Coliseum.

The sole collegiate game saw defending champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras clinching their second win in-a-row in the second round of eliminations after repelling the challenge of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 82-76, in a drama-filled ballgame.

With the feat, the Magis Eagles earned an automatic entry into the semifinals along with the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors who secured the no. 2 spot by streaking past the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 83-79, and preventing what would have been a four-way tie for the second spot.

While the Magis Eagles boast of an immaculate 8-0 win-loss record, the Baby Warriors ended their elimination campaign with a 6-2 record after losing to the Magis Eagles and the CIT-U Wildkittens.

Finishing at no.3 is the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters who totes a 5-3 card.

The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Baby Jaguars ended at the no.4 spot after routing the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 73-61. The win gave the Baby Jaguars a 5-3 card in a tie with the Junior Webmasters, however, the latter takes the third spot by virtue of “winner over the other” because UC defeated USJR lastAugust 1.

The no.5 spot is occupied by the Baby Lancers who finished with a 4-4 record, the same record that the Baby Panthers has except that they were relegated to the 6^th spot because USPF had bowed to UV last August 29.

Making their exits are the CIT-U Wildkittens at 7^th place with a record of 3-5, the CEC Dragons whose one win in eight games gave them the 8^th place and the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves who did not win any of its ballgames.

UC Junior Webmasters, USJR Baby Jaguars, UV Baby Lancers and USPF Baby Panthers will advance to the quarterfinals which will start on Tuesday, September 8 wherein UC and USJR will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage.

The Junior Webmasters will go up against the Baby Panthers while the Baby Jaguars will be facing the Baby Lancers.

The winners will advance to the semifinal round which will follow a single round-robin format with the top two teams contesting the 2015 title in a best of three series while teams no.3 and 4 will be playing for third place which will be a knockout game.

This is the best elimination finish so far for the Magis Eagles, who dropped one of their elimination games last year against the CIT-U Wildkittens who have the knack of pulling upsets despite never making it to the playoffs.

Eroll Pastor was named as the best player with his 17 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals in a game that had the Magis Eagles leading in all quarters.

In the USPF versus USJR match, the Baby Panthers took an early 5-0 lead before John Kirck Gonzaga converted all 3 of his free throws to give the Baby Jaguars its first three points. Teammate Arnold Dave Ando then tied the game at 5-all, for what is the first of 6 deadlocks.

While the first quarter ended with the Baby Jaguars enjoying a three-point advantage, 20-17, the Baby Panthers was able to close the gap at 35-all anchored on the back-to-back triples of Ain Obenza to end the first half.

In the third quarter, the game was tied thrice before the Baby Jaguars unloaded eight points to pull away with a 5-point advantage, 54-49, going into the final canto.

Gonzaga topscored for the Baby Jaguars with 30 points.

The USC versus UV match was also littered with several deadlocks with the Baby Warriors ending the first quarter in their favor, 22-17.

In the second quarter, Briedyn Aleyth Smith exploded with nine points to tow the Baby Warriors to a 42-36 advantage at the half.

It was Raul Jancork Cabahug’s turn to wax hot for the Baby Lancers in the third canto as he unleashed 10 points to allow the Baby Lancers to tie the game at 58-all going into the final canto.

In the fourth quarter, the game was tied several times as the lead exchange hands more than once too. The game had its final deadlock at 79-all with only 26 seconds remaining courtesy of Alje Mendez of the Baby Warriors.

The Baby Lancers was hurt by the fouls they committed as the seconds were pattering out with the Baby Warriors sinking four of its six charities, the last two for the win.

Smith topscored for the Baby Warriors with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals.

Meanwhile, in the collegiate contest, having only nine men on their lineup doesn’t seem to bother the defending champions SWU Cobras as they now stand at the no.2 spot with a 6-2 win-loss record.

The loss, on the otherhand, pushed the CITU Wildcats further down with a 3-5 card.

Melvin Holper clinched the best player tag with his 18 points, as he sank 3 of his 5 three-point attempts.

Drama ensued with only 4 minutes remaining in the ballgame and the Cobras leading by eight points, 76-68, when Jovanie Luz reacted strongly to what Mark Jayven Tallo was saying during a timeout. After raising his voice, he was seen gathering his bag to walkout of the game but was prevented by his teammates.

The altercation seemed to have rattled the Cobras as they allowed the Wildcats to come closer by just a point, 76-75, until Holper sank a shot from beyond the arc inside the last two-minute mark. He was then fouled twice and by sinking 3 of his 4 free throws, he sealed the win for his team.

Game schedule – September 6 at New Cebu Coliseum

5:15 PM – UC vs UV

6:45 PM – USC vs USPF

Scores:

Juniors

First game:

SHS-AdC (70) – Pastor 17, Mantua 8, Velasco 8, Bersaluna 6, Chen 6, Chua 6, Javelosa 5, Visser 4, Colonia 4, P. Yu 4, J. Yu 2.

CEC (54) – Tempra 20, Roa 12, Orillaneda 8, Canoy 4, Tecson 4, Astillero 3, L. Casio 2, M. Casio 2.

Quarter Scores: 21-7; 36-17; 50-33; 70-54.

Second game:

USJR (73) – Gonzaga 30, Ortiz 14, Ando 8, Teleron 8, Dado 6, Ibero 5, Dela Cruz 2.

USPF ( 61) – Obenza 27, Hernando 9, Urot 8, Archival 7, Peligrino 5, Macalam 2, Soon 2, Lequin 1.

Quarter Scores: 20-17; 35-35; 54-49, 73-61.

Third game:

UV (79) – Cabahug 30, Ra. Alforque 9, Membrano 8, Oche 8, Ro. Alforque 6, Laurente 6, Maglasang 5, Amistoso 4, Padilla 2, Paraldo 2, Yerro 1.

USC (83) – Smith 20, Mendez 19, Pakanna 9, Bande 8, Damolo 8, Canieso 6, Mangaron 4, Chavez 3, Gato 2, Laurente 2, Ranuco 2.

Quarter Scores: 17-22; 36-42; 58-58, 83-79.

Seniors

CITU (76) – Dela Cerna 21, Dimco 18, Bucao 13, Pono 11, Lucena 6, Taghoy 6, Sanchez 2.

SWU (82) – Holper 19, Auditor 16, Baustista 16, Tallo 13, Luz 8, Pardo 7, Racho 4.

Quarter Scores: 20-19; 28-41; 57-64; 76-82. – Rappler.com