UC Webmasters open bid on a high note (CEC Dragons now 3-0 in CESAFI cage wars)

CEBU, Philippines — The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters whipped the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs, 79-65, to kick off their campaign in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament on a bright note last Sunday, September 29, at the Cebu Coliseum.

All but one of the 15 players fielded in by coach Kernn Sesante contributed on UC’s well-balanced attack led by its prized catch Jepherson Nonol.

The Fil-Am guard from Houston, Texas finished with 12 points, one rebound, one assist, and two steals for the Webmasters, who were firmly in control after blitzing to a 32-18 start, which they parlayed into a 50-31 advantage at the break. Their biggest lead though stood at 21 points, 77-56, in the closing minutes of the lopsided contest.

Aside from combining for 20 points, Ray Charles Libatog, Mc Steven Ursal, and Luther Leonard were also accounted for 32 rebounds as the Webmasters outmuscled the Mustangs decisively, 77-30.

Keaton Taburnal netted 16 points and five rebounds while Redjhee Recimiento had 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and three steals but to no avail as the Mustangs suffered back-to-back defeats.

In the juniors division, Jyle Andre Roa and Lybron James Lamo scored 15 points each and combined for 14 rebounds, five assists, and a spectacular 11 steals to power the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons to their third straight victory with a 66-50 rout of UCLM (University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue).

Mark Justin Parilla and Reyvene Arobo also made a significant contribution for the Dragons with 15 points and 22 rebounds in between them.

In the other high school games, Fritz Gonzales fired 20 points on top of four rebounds, one assist, and three steals as the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers crushed the CRMC Baby Mustangs, 69-38, to go 2-0, while the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) Greywolves shrugged off an ice-cold start to upend the Benedicto College Baby Cheetahs, 72-69.

Angelo de la Cruz paced the Greywolves with 16 points and four rebounds. Jasheed Cyril Ybarra added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Dirk Louis Baguio and Isaac Go chipped in with 10 points apiece to the help Bosconians barge into the win column. — (FREEMAN)