CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors overcame an endgame meltdown to pull off 74-68 victory over the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildcats in their final elimination round assignment in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last night at the Cebu Colisuem.
The Warriors, who advanced into the quarterfinals as the no. 4 qualifier, had a near flawless field shooting at the start of the third period and withstood the gritty challenge by the Wildcats to break the game wide open with a 57-43 lead.
The Wildcats staged a minor rally in the fourth quarter to trim the deficit down to five points, 60-65, with still 6:15 left in the contest. The Warriors though caught fire anew to finish the job.
Sam Jordan Hemosa led the Warriors with 15 points, while Joven Cid Cortes and Giovanni Padillo connived for 25 points as they improved their win-loss record to 4-3.
Karen Rick de la Cerna had his finest game of the season pacing the Wildcats with 20 points. Heroche Molero was the only other double-digit scorer for CIT with 14.
In the juniors division, the CIT Wildkittens scored a whopping 126-44 triumph over the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons. Mark Jayven Tallo had 35 points as the Wildkittens notched their fourth win in six starts.
In the other secondary match, the UC Junior Webmasters moved one game away from scoring an 8-0 sweep after whipping the previously unbeaten Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) Eagles, 92-66. (GGM)