CEBU, Philippines - Spunky guard Mark Jayven Tallo had another spectacular performance as the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens applied the broom in finishing off the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars in Game 3, 81-78, to claim their first ever championship in the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) at the Cebu Coliseum.
The brightest star in CIT’s 3-0 sweep of USJ-R, Tallo pumped in 34 points last night to become the hands down choice as juniors MVP. Tallo, thus, automatically made it to the Mythical Five alongside his teammate Franklyn Batiquin, Clint Muñez of USJ-R, Gerlad Ampoon of UC Junior Webmasters and Gerlad Legarde of the UV Baby Lancers.
Tallo’s explosion was very damaging as he sparked every Wildkittens’ rally especially when the Baby Jaguars wrested the upperhand, 69-66, in the crucial stage of the game.
Exemplifying his all-around brilliance, Tallo drilled a triple to knot the count at 69-all and later
Monsour Pamaong hit a basket to put the Wildkittens on top for good, 71-69, at the final 3:57 mark of the contest.
CIT made the most out of the opportunity after USJ-R’s Franklyn Batiquin flubbed a triple with Wilkin Sanchez knicking in a triple to give the Wildkittens a 76-71 breather with only 1:32 left to play.
Batiquin backed up Tallo with 18 points followed Clyvin Limalima with 11.
The Wildkittens perhaps also drew strength from their chief cheerleader at the sidelines in City Councilor Arsenio “Pax” Pacaña, the dean of the CIT College of Education who was in attendance since the series openers.
Arlister Escatron, who banged in crucial triples in the final canto, topscored for the Baby Jaguars with 20 points, while Clint Muñez chipped in 13 markers.
The scores
CIT (81) - Tallo 34, Batiquin 18, Limalima 11, Koino 6, Sanchez 5, Pamaong 5, Abad 2
USJR (78) - Escatron 20, Muñez 13, Mate 12, Senining 10, Autentico 8, Go 3, Montecillo 2 Halftime: 32-29. – THE FREEMAN