Warriors rally past Wildcats

CEBU, Philippines -  Streak-shooter Giovanni Padillo hit back-to-back triples in the final three minutes of the contest to lift the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors to an 85-76 victory over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in last Tuesday's game of the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

5:15 pm UC vs. SHS-Adc (Jrs.)

6:45 pm SWU vs. CIT-U (Srs.)

First, it was Robert Gines Codilla who scored consecutive baskets as the Warriors turned a 68-69 deficit into a 72-69 lead with still 4:18 left to play.

A small rat stole the show when it crossed the floor just after Floyd Taboada gave the Wildcats their last taste of the lead, 69-68, and the Warriors entered into the early penalty situation at the last five-minute mark of the game.

The Wildcats came alive anew after Chester Curso converted two free throws, 71-72 but after Michael Cantonao made it 74-71, Padillo hit a triple to pad their lead to six points, 77-71. Padillo then hit another crucial three-pointer with one minute remaining as the Warriors hang on to an 80-73 lead.

Padillo, who was not a factor when they suffered two straight losses in the second round, finished with 15 points for the Warriors while Codilla scored 14 points.

Three more Warriors contributed double figures to underscore their well-balanced scoring as Cantonao and Sam Hermosa added 13 points each. Cid Cortes chipped in with 11 markers as they now hold a 5-4 win-loss record.

The Wildcats, still winless in eight games, were led by Curso with 24 points, while Taboada and Alex Joseph Rabaya scored 16 and 11 points, respectively.

The scores

USC (85) - Padillo 15, Codilla 14, Cantonao 13, Hermosa 13, Cortes 11, Bautista 9, Panerio 8, Duran 2

    CIT-U (76) - Curso 24, Taboada 16, Rabaya 11, Dimco 7, Batiquin 6, Graf 6, Taghoy 4, Sanchez 2 (FREEMAN)