CESAFI

USPF Panthers win commotion-marred game vs USC Warriors

Mars G. Alison

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

USPF Panthers win commotion-marred game vs USC Warriors
Four key players of the University of San Carlos were ejected from the game against the USPF Panthers

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A commotion-marred game that resulted in the ejection of 4 key players of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors saw the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers finally nailing their third win in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament.

They upset last season’s runner-up, 88-81, on Tuesday, September 11, at the New Cebu Coliseum.

Meted with a one game suspension and a P5,000 fine each were Kent Michael Cabañog, Malcolm Joe Tan, Leo Labiste, and Kenn Patjes Oguis. Each cager will also have to serve 4 hours of community service before they will be allowed to play again.

The 4 entered the court upon seeing their teammate John Aranas down, cornered near the Panthers’ bench and being kicked by USPF Panthers’ Edwin Villarta, following a jostle for the ball with less than 20 seconds left on Panthers possession.

The ejection will certainly hurt the Warriors who will next be facing the University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars this Sunday, September 17, as all cagers ejected are big men, leaving them with just Julius Salvador Cadavis as the remaining big man on the starting lineup.

USPF’s Villarta, on the other hand, was just meted a technical foul for second motion.

Despite the loss, the Warriors stay on the second spot with their 6-3 win-loss record while the Panthers climb a notch higher at 5th place with a 3-5 slate.

Five Panthers finished in double figures led by Lugie Cuyos who had 20 markers, followed by Lyndon Colina with 17, Rodelio Cauba Jr with 15, Villarta with 12, and Kenneth Cada with 11 points.

The Warriors had 21 points each from Lucky Ecarma and John Reel Saycon but this went for naught as they absorbed their third loss of the season.

Needing to win to stay in contention, the Panthers stayed focused and did not relinquish the lead they wrested from the Warriors, 18-17, courtesy of Colina a few minutes going into the second half.

The Panthers pulled to as much as 10 points ahead which they maintained until the end of the third quarter, 65-55. 

But in the fourth quarter, as their norm, the Panthers’ composure started to unravel, allowing the Warriors to get back into the game and close in at only 3 points behind on combined efforts by Saycon and Ecarma with still 7 minutes left in the ballgame.

With a third victory so close, the Panthers struggled to stay composed and once again held back the Warriors to 10 points, 77-67, on Cada’s basket.

The Warriors, however, were not to be denied as they once again closed the gap to just two points, 81-83, on Ecarma’s basket with just 28 seconds left but it was on the return play that the commotion erupted.

From there, the Panthers bagged their third win anchored on the freebies of Villarta, Cuyos, and Mike Patalinghug.     

Magis Eagles claw Baby Warriors

It was a double whammy for USC as the Baby Warriors were mangled by high school defending champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 37-63, in a game held earlier.  

With one more game left in the elimination, the Magis Eagles just sealed their entry into the top 4 as the second top ranked team as they extend their win to 7-1 with the win over the Baby Warriors.

Patrick Wilson Yu and Franz Diaz each tallied 11 points to lead the Magis Eagles while Christian Manaytay also contributed much with his 10 markers.

None of the Baby Warriors scored in double figures with the highest at 9 points by Ralph Garrick Bande.

The Magis Eagles held the Baby Warriors to just 4 points each in the first and second quarters. They did manage to score 11 points in the third quarter, unfortunately, the Magis Eagles also continued to build on their lead to as much as 26 points both in the third and final canto. – Rappler.com

The Scores

High School

SHS-AdC Magis Eagles (63) – P. Yu 16, Diaz 11, Manaytay 10, Javelosa 6, Colonia 5, Cutamora 3, Visser 3, Chua 2, Fuentebella 2, Quema 2, J.B. Yu 2, Tuadles 1.

USC Baby Warriors (37) – Bande 9, Saliot 7, Allosada 4, Iñigo 4, Garro 3, Salundaquit 3, Balazuela 2, Dumandan 2, Mendoza 2, Octaviano 1.

College

USPF Panthers (88) – Cuyos 20, Colina 17, Cauba 15, Villarta 12, Cada 11, Allocillo 3, Avanceña 3, Mangyao 3, Batac 2, Patalinghug 2.   

USC Warriors (81) – Ecarma 21, Saycon 21, Cabañog 9, Rabat 8, Araw-Araw 7, Cadavis 4, Aranas 3, Oleodo 3, Oguis 2, Tan 2, Marata 1. 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!