USC tames UI in PCCL Zonals

CEBU, Philippines - The newlook University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors dominated the visiting University of Iloilo Wildcats, 87-74, in the Vis-Min Zonals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Cebu Basketball Festival at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Warriors, along with the other local bet Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, are going for a kill against separate rivals today to be able to move into the next round where they are heading for a grudge rematch against the top two teams of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

The topseed in the elimination phase will go up CESAFI second placer University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, while the second ranking team sets up a hardcourt date against reigning champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters.

The gutsy Ilonggos, who trailed all the way despite outscoring the Warriors a bit in the final period, made a significant comeback after being down by as much as 16 points towards the end of the third canto but could only close in at 60-63 on a basket by Bernard Tibor.

Four Warriors finished in double figures led by Giovanni Padillo and Sam Hermosa with 18 and 17 points, respectively.

Michael Cantonao had 15 and Mark Gil Panerio added 14 markers for the Warriors, who were beefed up by Jabe Bautista and Mel Steven Duran.

The Wildcats from Iloilo were led by Arturo Aquitania with 22 points even as Tibor added 19. (THE FREEMAN)