Giovanni Padillo scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the final quarter to buoy the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors to an 89-84 victory over the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights and clinch the third place honors of the 1st La Fortuna Cup basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Padillo’s heroics were better felt late in the fourth period when he stole the ball after a mad scramble for possession and completed a three-point play that gave the Warriors a three-point lead, 85-82, with only 20 ticks left before the final buzzer.
Padillo also grabbed the last rebound of the game and then hit two free throws to settle the final tally.
The Cyber Knights actually took a 71-65 edge on a three-point swing by JC Ver Paraguya, but they paid dearly for not being consistent with their free throws. Elmer Aparice muffed two crucial free throws when the Warriors were already poised of wresting the driver’s seat.
Interestingly, Aparice’s charities gave the Cyber Knights a shaky 78-75 lead, but Padillo hit a game-tying triple, 78-all. The last time the Cyber Knights were on top was at 79-78 as Padillo handed back the lead to the Warriors for good, 80-79.
Padillo was heavily backed up offensively by Niño Ramirez and Joven Sid Cortes with 15 points apiece.
Paraguya paced the Cyber Knights with 22 points followed by Aparice and Vistal had 14 markers each.
The scores
USC (89) - Padillo 18, Ramirez 15, Cortes 15, Joven 6, Gallarde 6, Bautista 6, Bakker 5, Hermosa 5, Blanes 4, Codilla 4, Igao 2
ACT (84) - Paraguya 22, Aparice 14, Vistal 14, Nuñez 13, Doy 7, Batiancila 7, Cadiz 4, Valencia 3, De la Peña 2