Cantonao rallies USC past USPF in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines - Sweet-shooting guard June Michael Cantonao knocked in back-to-back triples late in the final period to vault the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors past the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 83-73, in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Cantonao's first crucial trey proved to be the turning point of the game as it gave the Warriors a 78-73 lead with only 1:33 left to play.

After a turnover by the Panthers, Cantonao canned another booming triple that padded USC's lead to eight points with a little over a minute to go.

Moments later, Nilton John Otida sank two free throws with 30 ticks left before the final buzzer to seal USC's 10-point victory.

Cantonao finished with 16 points, but it was American-Taiwanese Stephen Que who topscored for USC with 19 points. Nico Magat added 14 markers as the Warriors evened their record to 2-2 under watch of Cebuano basketball legend Julian Macoy.

Sedurifa topscored for the Panthers with 25 points, while Fritz Dajalos and Joshua Corcilles connived for 23 markers in a losing cause.

In the juniors division, defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers demolished the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters, 101-86, to firm up their grip of the solo lead with an unblemished 6-0 record.

Reigning MVP Andres Paul Desiderio fired 26 points for the Baby Lancers, while Gerald Fernandez banged in 20 markers in a devastating one-two combo.

Andrey Armenion and Justine Dacalos had 16 points apiece for the 3-3 Junior Webmasters.

The scores

Juniors

UV (101) - Desiderio 26, Fernandez 20, Manzo 11, Limitares 10, Santillan 9, Dinolan 8, Mepaña 7, Bercero 4, suan 2, Canete 2, Cabanilla 2

UC (86) - Armenion 16, Dacalos 16, Orquez 14, Ramos 9, Alocillo 9, Gastador 8, Dela Fuente 6, Igloria 4, Paon 3, Montilla 1

USC (83-) - Que 19, Cantonao 16, Magat 14, Otida 12, Pepito 9, Valencia 5, Bautista 2, Adlawan 2, Seno 2, De Jesus 2

USPF (73-) - Sedurifa 25, Dajalos 12, Corcilles 11, J. Ferraren 9, E. Ferraren 5, Camello 4, Misa 4, Sollano 3.    - THE FREEMAN