UC shoots for rare sweep in CESAFI caging tonight

CEBU, Philippines - The undefeated University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters shoot for a rare elimination round sweep when they take on the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

1 pm CIT vs. CEC (Jrs.)

2:30 pm SHS vs. UC (Jrs.)

4 pm USC vs. CIT (Srs.)

5:30 pm SWU vs. UC (Srs.)

Assured of being the top qualifier regardless of tonight’s results, the Webmasters have the penchant to sit down their starting unit and could just be complacent with their second stringers instead. 

  Even UC team manager Atty. Baldomero C. Estenzo is not seriously considering a historic sweep by Webmasters although it will follow after a good 40-minute battle against the hard-fighting Cobras. “Win or lose, it doesn’t matter at all but we have to give our second stringers enough time to play so that they can be ready during the quarterfinals,” said Estenzo.

The Webmasters have an old issue to settle against the Cobras, who beat them in the CESAFI Partner’s Cup finals last March. That was already a thing of the past though as the Cobras still have Eric Zanoria and Richard Gianchand during that time.

Also, the Webmasters are more ready to face the Cobras this time around riding on the crest of their unblemished 6-0 record. On the other hand, the Lancers, who completed the qualifying phase with a 6-1 win-loss record, are in the second place which they officially settled last Thursday with a 95-55 rout of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

The outcome of the match was already a foregone conclusion as early as halftime when the Lancers zoomed to a commanding 49-24 lead.

Elmer Mykiel Cabahug paced the Lancers with 18 points, while rookie Johann Quintana posted a season-high 12 points. 6-foot-11 giant Gregory Slaughter added 11 markers, but was whistled for a technical foul in the third period for hanging on the rim after a two-handed slam.

Edwin Bibera was the only double-digit scorer with 13 points for the Jaguars, which dropped to fifth place with a 4-3 win-loss card.

The scores

UV (95) - Cabahug 18, Quintana 12, Slaughter 11, Diputado 9, Mercader 7, Lao 7, Silva 6, Lasala 5, Dennison 5, Cincoflores 5, Olivares 4, Manigque 4, Señeres 2

USJ-R (55) - Bibera 13, Suliman 8, Villaver 7, Nudalo 6, Amores 5, Lapiz 4, Alquizola 3, Pateño 2, Senining 2, Dela Rama 1

Halftime: 49-24 (THE FREEMAN)