CEBU, Philippines - The resilient University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors played cool under heavy pressure to escape with an 88-83 victory over the tenacious Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season the other night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games on Monday
(Cebu Coliseum)
1 pm DBTC vs. CIT (Jrs.)
2:30 pm UC vs. UV (Jrs.)
4: pm DBTC vs. UV (Srs.)
5:30 pm UC vs. USC (Srs.)
The Warriors, who are on a two-game winning roll, was on top by 10 points, 84-74, in the final 1:46 mark of the contest, but the Greywolves never ceded and quickly poured in seven unanswered points to threaten at 81-84 with only 12 ticks left before the final buzzer.
The Greywolves, however, fell short in completing a huge comeback as the Warriors nailed four free throws to seal the deal.
The Greywolves had a torrid 3-point shooting in the third period where they strafed seven tomahawks - three each from Joseph Villaver and Alain de los Santos and one from John Mark Castro. That gained them a two-point headway, 59-57, heading into the final quarter courtesy of a buzzer-beating shot by Jayson Cabrilles.
The last time the Greywolves were ahead was at 66-65 on a three-point play by Jefford Aldave but still plenty of time to spare.
Giovanni Padillo pumped in a season-best 29 points for the Warriors. Michael Cantonao sank 15 markers, while Cid Joven Cortes and Sam Jordan Hermosa connived for 21 points as they evened their win-loss record to 2-2.
De los Santos paced Don Bosco with 18 points followed by Celso Colegado, Jr. and Villaver with 15 and 12, respectively.
The scores
USC (88) - Padillo 29, Cantonao 15, Cortes 11, Hermosa 10, Gallarde 6, Padayao 5, Otida 4, Panerio 4, Bakker 3, Joven 1
DBTC (83) - De los Santos 18, Colegado 15, Villaver 12, Aldave 9, Cabrilles 9, Sinco 8, Juntilla 7, Castro 3, Georsua 2 (FREEMAN NEWS)