CEC Dragons roar into semis

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons ousted the twice-to-beat University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 78-67, to become the only lower-ranked squad to advance into the semifinal round of the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The fifth seed Dragons forged a rubbermatch after whipping the No.4 qualifier Baby Warriors, 83-70, during their first quarterfinal encounter.

The Dragons, however, have a mountain to climb as they will go up against the undefeated elimination round topnotcher Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in the next stage of the tournament on September 11.

The other semifinalists in the juniors division are defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers and the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens.

CEC coach Catalino Murillo, Jr. had a great pull out from their bench when he fielded in Michael Lorenzo Balankig, a remnant of their 2010 championship.

Balankig gamely rose to the occasion to shine for the Dragons with 14 points. It was, however, Mark Vincent Berdera who topped CEC's scoring chart with 16 markers spotlighted by a clutch 3-pointer capping a 5-0 blitz that pushed the Easternians on top by five, 65-61, for good.

Balankig, Berdera and big man Manuel Grijaldo then delivered the crushing blows as the Dragons walked away with an 11-point win that proved to be the largest margin of the night.

It was another sorry loss for the Baby Warriors, who enjoyed an eight-point advantage, 42-34, on a buzzer-beating triple by Glenn Suelto with 1:40 left in the second period only to run out of offensive bullets as the game progressed.

The Baby Warriors were ahead for the last time at 61-60 as the Dragons launched a strong endgame kick to turn the tables on the Carolinians.

Suelto led the Baby Warriors with 16 points followed by Adlawan with 14.

The scores

CEC (78) - Berdera 16, Balankig 14, Zosa 11, Grijaldo 10, Bracero 10, Bacho 7, Alvizo 4, Bayhonan 3, Tan 2, Yap 1

USC (67) - Suelto 16, Adlawan 14, Osabel 11, Galinato 7, Camacho 4, Antigua 4, Sotes 3, Bulan 2, Pillares 2, Piad 2, Ortega 2 (BANAT NEWS)