UC seeks first win in CESAFI cagefest

Games today (Cebu Coliseum)

5 pm UC vs. DBTC (jrs.)

6:45 pm UC vs. CIT-U (srs.)

CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters hope to bounce back from a season-opening defeat when they take on the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in the continuing action of the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament tonight at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Webmasters fell prey to the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors last Sunday, 79-86, but they are poised to barge into the win column when they battle the Wildcats, who were anniikated by the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 72-51, just the other night.

The Webmasters will again be forced to play with a depleted lineup because some of their players are not yet available.

Constancio Lumingkit is out of commission, Benedict Ocariza is under disciplinary action, while the much-improved Kevin Quilantang is still in the hospital recovering from dengue.

The Webmasters will most likely have only nine players to combat the Wildcats, who in turn, will play sans star player Floyd Taboada.

During their game against the Lancers, Taboada was ejected after incurring two unsportsmanlike fouls. For such, he will serve an automatic one-game suspension plus a P5,000 fine.

The Webmasters coaching staff led by Roel Gomez believe that they are capable of beating the Wildcats despite being undermanned. They will rely on Quinton Brian Heruela, Robinson Mohammad, Gil Wagas, Val Cueva and Thirdy Miranda along with rookie players Alexander Asis, Kido Cabrera and Benick Sealana.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, will count on ace shooter Allan Dimco, Axel Rabaya, Franklyn Batiquin, Julius Tabalin, Jeffrey Taghoy and three-point artist John Graf.

In the lone secondary match at 5 pm, the UC Junior Webmasters gun for their second straight win as they mix it up with the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves. (FREEMAN)