Jaguars outlast Cobras in 2OT

CEBU, Philippines - Power forward Edwin Bibera is somehow saving his best for last now that he is in his final year with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

Games on Tuesday (Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm USPF vs. USC (Jrs.)

6 pm USPF vs. UC (Srs.)

Bibera unloaded half of his 30 points in the final period and then shouldered the bulk of his team’s offensive load when it mattered most as the USJ-R Jaguars stunned the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 90-86, in the first double overtime game of the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Bibera gave the Jaguars a 60-51 lead with 4:15 left to play in the regulation period, but the Cobras did not wilt under pressure and responded with a 16-7 rally to forge a 67-all standoff, thus, the first overtime. Eliud Poligrates scored 11 points in that SWU blitz.

The Jaguars were on top anew, 77-75, on a triple by Bibera with 22 seconds to go. With the Cobras down by just a matchstick, 76-77, the Jaguars could have won the match outright, but pointguard Edmar Pateño flubbed his free throws with 12.3 seconds remaining.

In ensuing play, it was the Cobras’ turn to steal the win, but Poligrates just split his charities to knot the count at 77-all and extend the lung-busting duel to another five minutes.

The Jaguars once again came out strong in the second extension and took an 87-81 edge with 51 ticks left in the gameclock. The diehard Cobras though were not done yet as Gilbert Gallarde scored on a five-point swing to chop the deficit down to a hairline, 86-87, with 24 seconds to go.

That proved to be SWU’s last hurrah as Medget de la Rema and Pateño went 3-of-4 from the foul line to bail the Jaguars out of danger.

A triple overtime was actually in the offing, but Poligrates missed a hard drive into the hoop when they just trailed by two points, 86-88.

Jerome Villaver chipped in 14 points for the Jaguars, who joined the UC Webmasters atop the standings with similar immaculate 2-0 records.

Poligrates and Eleazar Armecin, who was injured in the second overtime, both had 21 points for the Cobras, while Gallarde and Rene Pacquaio nailed 13 and 10 markers, respectively, in a losing cause.

The scores

USJ-R (90) - Bibera 30, Villaver 14, Amores 9, Lapiz 8, Suliman 8, Dela Rama 7, Dela Peña 6, Alquizola 1, Duran 1, Nudalo 1

SWU (86) - Poligrates 21, Armecin 21, Gallarde 13, Pacquiao 10, Jalandoni 9, Pria 6, Litorja 6. -  THE FREEMAN