USJ-R, USC win

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars fended off a fierce challenge by the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildcats to hack out a 80-63 win and forge a three-way logjam at third in the 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball event last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today
(Cebu Coliseum)
1 pm USC vs. USJR (Jrs.)
2:30 pm CIT vs. Don Bosco (Jrs)
4 pm UC vs. Don Bosco (Srs)
5:30 pm USP vs. CIT (Srs)

The Jaguars, USC Warriors and USP Panthers are currently tied with similar 3-2 win-loss records and the three are still jockeying for the second spot after the elimination. The Warriors claimed their third win in five starts at the expense of Don Bosco College, 120-92.

In the secondary matches, the USP Baby Panthers tamed the USJ-R Baby Jaguars, 107-94, while the UC Junior Webmasters defeated Don Bosco, 72-60, as they both remained unbeaten in four games. They will dispute the top spot in a prestige game on Monday, a holiday being the death anniversary of the late Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.

Recovering from a lackluster first half where they trailed by 11 points, 28-39, the Wildcats regrouped to pull within four points, 47-51, on Ryan Montealto's 3-point play late in the third period. Instead of completing what would have been a great comeback, Montealto was whistled for an unsportsmanlike foul with 24.7 seconds left in the third period. That gave the Jaguars a four-point swing ending the period at 55-49.

The Wildcats nrever recovered from there as the Jaguars launched a furious endgame assault to come up with a 17-point rout. Luther Luke Justiniani topscored for the Jaguars with 17 points, while Ariel Lozano, a veteran in many commercial leagues, followed with 13 points.

The Wildcats, who were blowing hot and cold, was led by Sherwin Abobo with 17 points, while Marvin Abapo and Jerry Lumongsod had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Earlier, five Warriors scored in double figures led by Niño Ramirez with 16 points.

Celso Colegado had 28 points, but his explosive night went for naught at the debuting Don Bosco lurther languished at the cellar without win in eight games.

The scores

First game (Juniors)

USP (107) - Dysam 19, Marao 14, Dionson 13, Elorde 13, Muez 13, Bordalba 9, Cabatingan 9, Dela Cruz 5, Balungcas 3, Abala 2, Canoy 2,

USJ-R (94) - Unabia 19, Heredia 15, Caritan 10, Ponsica 7, Senining 7, Trillo 5, Cabanes 6, Ducao 4, Villarin 3, Corominas 3, Simporios 2

Second game

UC (72 ) - Rago 15, Mohammad 11, Caspoy 9, Enriquez 8, Cuico 7, Panerio 7, Ferrolino 5, Babad 3, Bacalso 2, Cabanero 2, Espinosa 2, Connors 1

Don Bosco (60) - Malicden15, Tan 13, Lapitan 10, Tesaluna 9, Parilla 6, Belangel 2, Dela Torre 1

Third game (Seniors) USC (120) - Ramirez 16, Ferraren 14, Mercader 13, arriesgado 12, Gallarde 12, Llanto 9, Tagalog 8, Cabajar 7, Dabuco 6, Capisano 5, Padayao 5, Joven 5,Igao 5, Tangarorang 4, Blanes 2 Don Bosco (92) - Colegado 28, Sunga 16, Villaver 10, Abarquez 9, Aldave 8, Litorja 6, Vargas 5, Nepomuceno 5, Mabano 4, Del rosario 1 Fourth game (Seniors)

USJ-R (80) - Justiniani 17, Lozano 13, Gudez 10, Gabas 8, Arpay 7, Hatague 6, Delfino 4, Ponce 4, Pateo 3, Villahermosa 2

CIT (63) - Abobo 17, Abapo 11, Lumongsod 10, Montealto 8, Regis 8, Anion 4, Molero 2, Adlawan 2, Reyes 1