USJ-R, USC win series opener

CEBU, Philippines - Topseeds Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/USJ-R Jaguars and San Marino Corned Tuna-USC Warriors drew first blood over their respective rivals in the best-of-three semifinal series to move a win away from a titular showdown for the first time in the 4th CESAFI Partner’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

The well-rested elimination round topnotcher USJ-R Jaguars hammered out an 83-70 demolition of Aerosol-USPF Panthers, while the USC Warriors proved that their 78-74 victory over the mighty PTT Fuels-UV Lancers during the season-opener was no fluke by duplicating it in convincing fashion, 105-94.

Beating the Lancers is no longer a surprise for the Warriors, but it is not happening too often either. When they met in the CESAFI finals for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007, the Warriors did pull an upset but the Lancers prevailed in both meetings.

Last Sunday, the Warriors marched into the battlefield even more fiercer as they outscored the Lancers by a mile, 31-10, at the end of the first period. Michael Cantonao then provided the finishing touches as Carolinians broke the hearts of the Visayanians once more.

Cantonao exploded with 24 points for USC, while team captain Sam Jordan Hermosa and the vastly-improved center Joven Cid Cortes banged in 17 markers apiece.

Phil Mercader topscored for the Lancers with 26 points followed by Ralf Olivares with 14.

In the nightcap, the Jaguars warded off a daring third-quarter rally by the Panthers and then unleashed a free-flowing offensive in the windup to come up with an 11-point romp.

Veteran players Manny Gabas and Armand Ponce led the Jaguars with 16 and 10 points, respectively.

The Panthers, who reached the semifinal round after slaying the twice-to-beat Enervon C-UC Webmasters, were led by Fritz Dajalos with 24 points. Elvis Labares and Dennis Ferraren each scored 11 in a losing effort.

The scores

First game

San Marino-USC (105) - Cantonao 24, Hermosa 17, Cortes 17, Bautista 9, Panerio 8, Bercede 6, Codilla 4, Padillo 4, Otida 4, Duran 2

PTT Fuels-UV (94) - Mercader 26, Olivares 14, Cabahug 8, Silba 8, Cincoflores 7, Calo 7, Senires 5, Abad 5, Perolino 3, Auditor 3, Sayson 2, Manigque 2, Rios 2, Enterina 2

Second game

Ave Maria/USJ-R (83) - Gabas 16, Ponce 10, Amores 9, Suliman 8, Duran 6, Villaver 6, Abing 5, Delifino 5, Dela Rama 4, Olbedado 4, Bibera 4, Senining 2, Nudalo 2

Aerosol-USPF (70) - Dajalos 24, Labares 11, D. Ferraren 11, Durano 7, Canahug 6, Rivera 6, Bardilas 3, J. Ferraren 2   (FREEMAN NEWS)