UC Webmasters eye best start in CESAFI

After completing an impressive double sweep including one at their turf, it's now the turn of the University of Cebu Webmasters to invade enemy lines as they go up against host University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars today in the 2005 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball event at the USJ-R gym in Brgy. Basak, this city. Games today 4:00 pm CIT vs. Don Bosco (sec.) 5:30 pm USJR vs. UC (sec.) 7:pm USJ-R vs. UC (coll.)

Riding high on victories over Cebu Institute of Technology and University of San Carlos, the Webmasters of coach Roel Gomez are bidding for a 3-0 start, a feat they never achieved since the league's inception in 2000.

The Junior Webmasters also shoot for their third straight victory in as many games as they clash with the Baby Jaguars, even as the Don Bosco Greywolves, fresh from bringing the defending champion UV Baby Lancers back to earth, eye back-to-back wins as they collide against the winless CIT Wildkittens in the first game.

On paper, the Webmasters have a more solid lineup than the Jaguars, who will surely miss the services of Ian Saladaga and Ariel Lozano. Saladaga is now playing in the PBL, while Lozano is serving a one-year suspension.

The Webmasters are expected to use their quickness to offset their height problems. They also hope that gunners Jared Kane Abatayo, Orville Saludsod, Allain Abellanosa, Aldeth Batobalonos, Harlow Chad Villanil and national youth team campaigner Jonathan Canceran.

With only Miguelito Ducay, Salvador Cadayong and Fil-Australian Ata Ayuk as their big men, they are not relying too much from them because Ducay is oftentimes more comfortable playing outside than manning the post.

Ayuk might be outmacthed by veteran Jaguars center Ranulfo Malinao, while Cadayong or either Franco Angelo Cipriano and Rendylle Lou Quirino will take care of Randy Pogoy or Ryan Arpay of San Jose.

The departure of Saladaga and the absence of Lozano really created a big vacuum and disparity in the Jaguars' present roster.

Thus, rookie coach Donald Duran is hoping and praying that rookies like Raymund Maconocido, Armand May Ponce, Jessamer Villahermosa, Bobby Abraham Hatague and Lyndon Gudez will deliver the goods for the team.

The Jaguars, who are the losing finalists to the mighty UV Green Lancers in the past four years, are in danger of plunging into a woeful 0-2 start this season.

The bright hopes for the Jaguars' offensive are senior offguard Herbert Arellano and ace pointman Luther Luke Justiniani.

But the Webmasters can match them with Kenneth Sesante and Raymond Yncierto, who are capable enough of preventing them from scoring transition baskets.

In the other games, Jan Julius Colina, Mark Gil Panerio, Daniel Blaise, Enriquez, Robinson Mohammad and Cyril John Gayo of the Junior Webmasters are ready for battle against the Baby Jaguars led by Anectio Lapiz, Jr. Renato Abing, Eazil Andoy, Louien Yballe, Aasron Joshua Caparros and Robert Vincent Manalili.

Don Bosco will rely on Rodulfo Enterina III, Jose Roberto Acha and Jose Luis Garcia, while the Wildkittens pin their hopes on Eliezar Delmar, Emmanuel Diza, Karen Rick Dela Cerna, Kiam Ian Alvarez and Kenneth Cañete.