CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars try to prevent a two-game losing skid for the first time this season as they go up against the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves in the lone collegiate match of the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball event tonight at the Cebu Coliseum.
Likewise, the Baby Jaguars will see action against the resurgent University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Baby Panthers in the opening tussle set at 4:30 pm.
The Jaguars are poised to bounce back from a 75-80 upset loss to the USPF Panthers in last Saturday’s game that almost resulted into a fray between the Jaguars’ coaching staff against the referees due to what they believed a controversial and unfair decision.
Finishing the elimination round as the fourth qualifier suddenly looked bleak for the Jaguars due to that stingy loss to the Panthers. Also, they have yet to face the formidable eight-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers on Thursday.
Against Don Bosco, the Jaguars are the odds-on favorite but they should not flirt with complacency against the Greywolves. More importantly, the likes of Edwin Bibera, Edmar Pateño and Kurt Amores who were nothing but monumental busts during their Panthers’ debacle must step up bigtime on both ends of the court.
The winless Greywolves, on the other hand, will try their luck with some of their finest stars that include Celso Colegado Jr, Alain de los Santos, Jefford Alvade, Joseph Villaver and Jayson Cabrilles.
In the secondary division, it will be an interesting match-up between the Baby Jaguars (2-4) and the Baby Panthers (1-4) as they have an almost equally-balanced lineups.
Both teams are also feisty owing to their contrasting victories in their previous assignments. The Baby Panthers needed an extra five-minute before getting rid of the CIT Wildkittens, 101-96, while the Baby Jaguars easily dismantled the CEC Dragons, 142-33. (THE FREEMAN)