Baby Lancers barge into semifinals

CEBU, Philippines - The PTT Fuels-UV Baby Lancers made two big runs in the second half to knock out the Aerosol-USPF Baby Panthers, 100-77, and advance into the semifinal round of the 4th CESAFI Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Baby Lancers turned an 18-19 deficit into a virtual rout and after taking a 12-point lead at the intermisison, 45-33, they went on a relentless offensive rampage in the third period that wobbled the Baby Panthers the rest of the way.

So furious the Baby Lancers were that they built as much as 22 points lead, 79-57, still with eight minutes left to play.

All players fielded in by Baby Lancers’ coach Delfin Pepito Jr. scored led by Lucky Suan with 12 points. Gerald Legarde and Michael David Smith each scored 10 points.

Rommel Diapera, on the other hand, was like a one-man army for the Baby Panthers to finish with a game-high 26 points. He don’t have ample support from his teammates especially Joshua Corcilles who was limited to a measly seven points.

The Baby Lancers will face an acid test in the semifinals as they face their CESAFI regular season tormentor and defending champion Bibbo-CIT Wildkitten.

In the other semis duel in the secondary division, the top-ranked Enervon C-UC Junior Webmasters will take on the fourth seed Ave Maria-USJR Baby Jaguars.

The scores

PTT-UV (100) - Suan 12, Legarde 10, Smith 10, Arong 9, Ybañez 8, Undaloc 8, Flores 7, Dennison 7, Linao 6, Marata 5, Tagalog 5, Nuñez 4, Mendoza 4, Brigoli 3, Regner 2

Aerosol-USPF (77) - Diapera 26, Tudio 16, Divino 9, Beldoro 8, Corcilles 7, Pitogo 6, Gigante 5, Antigua 2, Medaros 2 Halftime: 45-33. (FREEMAN NEWS)