The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors wasted away a 24-point advantage but were quick to regain their form to shackle the Don Bosco College Greywolves, 73-64, in the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball event the other night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games on Sunday
(Cebu Coliseum)
1 pm USC vs. CEC (Jrs.)
2:30 pm USPF vs. UV (Jrs.)
4 pm CIT vs. UV (Srs.)
5:30 pm UC vs. USC (Srs.)
Thus, the Warriors climbed to solo third place in the overall standings with a 4-2 win-loss record behind the undefeated league-leader University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars (5-0) and seven-time champion University of the Visayas Green Lancers (4-1).
The outcome of the one-sided battle was already evident when the red-shot Warriors built a commanding 61-37 advantage at the end of the third period.
After that, the Warriors somehow flirted with complacency, but the best the fighting Greywolves could muster was to pull within eight points, 64-72, to the delight of the Bosconian fans with six seconds left to play.
The daring run was inspired by the cluster of points coming from Rudy Enterina Jr.’s medium range jumpers and Ricmar Perturbos’ back-to-back triples in the final minute of the contest.
For the second straight game, Giovanni Padillo topscored for the Warriors with 11 points, while Sam Jordan Hermosa and Joven Cid Cortes banged in 10 markers apiece.
Also, the Greywolves had three players in double figures led by Perturbos with 16 points. Celso Colegado Jr. and Joseph Villaver each scored 11 as the Bosconians suffered their third loss in four starts.
The scores
USC (73) - Padillo 11, Hermosa 10, Cortes 10, Gallarde 9, Rowe 7, Cantonao 6, Codilla 4, Bakker 4, Bercede 4, Bautista 3, Igao 3, Blanes 2
DBTC (64) - Perturbos 16, Colegado 11, Villaver 11, Dela Rama 9, Lumapas 5, Enterina 4, Aldave 4, Alvarez 3, Caballero 1