CEBU, Philippines – The University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters had to go through the eye of the needle against the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles before pulling an 84-80 victory in last night's lone secondary match of the 10th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Junior Webmasters were protecting a six-point lead, 80-74 with still 50.8 seconds left in the ballgame, but Adamme Talisic was whistled for a costly technical foul for holding Adrian Muller allowing the Magis Eagles to take the momentum.
Talisic, who contributed 11 points for UC's cause was pulled out of the game.
Bradley Bacaltos, who had a brilliant fourth period, canned two technical free throws and the Magis Eagles, after regaining ball possession, tied the count at 80-all on Muller's two charities completing a six-point turnaround down to just 14.4 seconds.
In the return play, Oscar Pua Jr. split his charities off a foul by Adven Jess Diputado with still 5.1 ticks left giving the Junior Webmasters a precarious 81-80 edge and the Eagles geared off for their finals shot. However, Muller committed a dribbling violation when their point guards failed to receive the leather as they were heading forward for a possible fast break, thus a turnover.
Rabani Comendador later saved the day for the Junior Webmasters by converting two gift shots, 83-80.
He later settled the final tally after splitting his charities off a foul by Aaron Baldwin Sing making it 84-80 with three-tenths of a second left.
The loss was the second straight for the Magis Eagles, which is way contrary to last year's 3-0 start.
Alvin Labolabo, who had to be pulled out before the end of the game when he suffered cramps on both legs, top scored for the Junior Webmasters with 29 points.
Jeric Gel Yburan was the other Junior Webmasters, who finished in double Figures, with 17 points that included a pivotal three-pointer in the fourth period.
Muller and Diputado each scored 19 points for the Magis Eagles while Bacaltos and Julius Cadavis had 16 and 13 points, respectively. (THE FREEMAN)