Wildcats seek to improve best start in CESAFI tilt

CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats will try to improve what is by far their best start ever as they take on the skidding University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in the 14th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.  men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Wildcats, who are gunning for their third victory, will clash with the Jaguars at 6:45 p.m., right after the juniors division match between the CIT-U Wildkittens and the Cebu Eastern College  Dragons set at 5:15 p.m.

Though they've been playing the 'giant's killer' role since their season-opening win over defending champion University of the Visayas  Green Lancers, the Wildcats must be wary of the Jaguars, who are smarting from back-to-back setbacks despite the presence of foreign player in Cameroonian Quentin Luzoladio and a highly-repected coach in Jun Noel.

Though winless, the Jaguars have shown that they're are slowly picking up their game following their 60-65 defeat to the fancied Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras last Sunday. In that game, they led for most of the way only to lose steam when it mattered most.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars have proven that they are one tough nut to crack despite their woeful 0-2 start. That five-point losing margin to the Cobrasis sufficient enough to spot their improvement.

The Wildcats, for their part, lost to SWU by 14 points, 68-82, and that simple means they can't take the Jaguars lightly.

As they seek to better their 2-1 win-loss record, the Wildcats could count on the deadly triumvirate of Joshua de la Cerna, Franklyn Batiquin and the Allan Dimco, while the Jaguars will bank on Luzoladio, James Regalado and prized rookie Kevin Villafranca as they hope to finally barge into the win column. (FREEMAN)