CEBU, Philippines - Wilkin Sanchez knocked in a 3-pointer with three seconds left to play to lift the Bibbo-CIT Wildkittens to a heat-pounding 84-83 win over the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-USJR Baby Jaguars, while the PTT Fuels-UV Baby Lancers demolished the Aerosol-USPF Baby Panthers, 86-66, in yesterday's secondary twinbill of the 4th CESAFI Partner's Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.
Sanchez's heroics prevented the Baby Jaguars from taking the solo second spot behind the 5-0 Enervon C-UC Junior Webmasters. The Baby Jaguars actually had a chance to steal the win, but they committed an inbound error that sealed their doom.
Despite sitting in the entire first half, Sanchez managed to lead CIT's offense with 22 points as they improved their win-loss record to 3-2 in a tie with their victim. As a result, they forced a three-way logjam with the Baby Lancers.
Only one team from the high school division will automatically advance into the semifinals while the rest are in in the hot pursuit for the next top three spots.
Joseph Nallos, Mark Jayven Tallo and Dan Jason Tejam all finished with double figures for the Wildkittens.
Later in the afternoon, the Baby Lancers turned a low-scoring first period, 16-15, into a 20-point hacking of their rivals. Vincent Mendoza paced UV with 12 points.
Rommel Diapera also netted 12 points as the Panthers fell to 1-2. (FREEMAN NEWS)