Jaguars complete semis cast

CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars rebuffed a relentless resistance by Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) to lash back at the Wildcats, 78-65, and complete the four-team semifinal cast in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season on Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jaguars, who avenged their 85-91 loss in overtime to the same rivals last Sunday, brace for an uphill battle as they enter the next phase of the tournament as they take on the face second seed and eight-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the best-of-three semifinal series starting on Tuesday.

The other final berth will be contested by the top-ranked University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and fourth qualifier University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

Top center Kurt Amores made his presence felt at the painted area by scoring 16 points for the Jaguars. He was lucky enough to be saved from a one-game suspension after he hammered CIT’s Heroche Molero to the floor in their previous encounter.

In sharp contrast, Molero was reduced to a mere spectator and was rendered helpless when the CIT needed him most.

Except for the final tally, the Jaguars could only go as far as 11 points in the entire game because the gritty Wildcats constantly stayed within striking distance and were even down by just four points at the start of the fourth period, 51-55.

Edwin Bibera backed up Amores with 14 points while Pateño chipped in a dozen markers.

In the absence of Molero, rookie Chester Curso stepped up with 17 points but they still fell short in the end. The Wildcats’ twin towers of Arnel Ipang and Marko Elmaga were never a factor as they combined for only a measly 10 points.

Meanwhile, the pairings in the juniors division semis pit the undefeated topseed UC Junior Webmasters against the USJ-R Baby Jaguars and the second-ranked UV Baby Lancers versus the CIT Wildkittens.

The scores

USJ-R (78) - Amores 16, Bibera 14, Pateño 12, Villaver 10, Duran 7, Alquizola 7, Dela Rama 6, Suliman 4, Lapiz 2CIT (65) - Curso 17, Taboada 11, Cañete 9, Ipang 9, Dela Cerna 7, Uy 5, Sagmon 3, Elmaga 2, Cabañero 1

Halftime: 41-34 (FREEMAN NEWS)