The University of San Carlos Baby Warriors suffered a scoring drought in the third period, but had a job well done in the fourth the steady hands of Nilton John Otida and Carl Miko Santos to outlast the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens, 66-60, in the secondary match of the 7th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament yesterday at the USC gym.
Earlier, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars posted a ruthless 80-59 victory over the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves.
The Baby Warriors raced to a 41-34 lead at halftime, but were held off to only eight points in the third canto due to the pesky defense of the Wildkittens. That enabled the CIT juniors to forge a 49-all deadlock heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest.
Otida immediately shattered the tie by sinking two free throws, 51-49, while Ian Alocillo greeted the fourth quarter with a triple to pad the Baby Warrior’s lead to five, 54-49, although the Wildkittens refused to wither away.
Otida later scored four more free throws and a jumper to separate them with the Wildcats by seven points, 66-58, with only 50 seconds of the contest to the delight of USC high school coach Roland Remedio.
When it was time for the Baby Warriors to look for crucial points, Otida came to the rescue leading his team with 17 points. Santos added 10 points.
Selden Clint Gerali topscored for the Wildkittens with 23 points.
Earlier, five Baby Jaguars scored in double figures led by Joshua Heredia with 18 points. Chriad Don Bacalso had 16 points for Don Bosco, but had little help from the rest of his teammates.
The scores
First game
USJ-R (Jrs.) 80 - Heredia 18, Trillo 16, Regalado 15, Marquez 11, Ponsica 10, Saladaga 4, Muñez 4, Dimaampao 2
Don Bosco (59) - Bacalso 16, Villahermosa 9, Mellana 6, Belanguel 6, Belciña 5, Perez 4, Lapitan 3, Parcon 3, Ruiz 3, Mangubat 2, Borbon 2
Second game
USC (Jrs.) 66 - Otida 17, Santos 10, Negapatan 8, Alocillo 6, Tiu 6, Sumayang 4, Delos santos 4, Ferrolino 3, Uy 3, Nuñeza 2, Omolon 1
CIT (Jrs.) 60 - Gerali 23, Taghoy 14, Espinosa 5, Fuentes R. 4, Piezas 4, Borinaga 3, Brigoli 3, Aton 2, Almario 1, Fuentes 1