Warriors go after third victory in CESAFI hoop

CEBU, Philippines – A well-rested University of San Carlors Warriors will go after their third win in a row when they collide with the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men’s basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Warriors of coach Britt Reroma have not seen action since trouncing the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 88-64, nine days ago.

Counting their 64-76 triumph over the Southwestern University Cobras last August 2, the Warriors are two full games behind the pace-setting University of the Visayas Green Lancers, who coasted to their fourth straight victory via a 97-56 massacre of the Panthers just last Sunday.

The Warriors hope to pull closer to the Lancers, undoubtedly their strongest challenger for the coveted the championship, when they face off with the Wildcats at 6:45 p.m.

Loaded with a solid lineup backed up by dominant reinforcement in Shooster Olago, the Warriors are the odds-on favorites against the Wildcats, who just snapped out of their three game skid after fending off the University of Cebu Webmasters, 92-87,in the league’s first overtime game this season last Saturday.

Though a reliable scoring machine, Olago is not really burdened to carry most of Warriors’ load as they have a plethora of talents to count on such as Charles Pepito, Victor Rabat, Nico Magat, Caesar Ortega, Keifer Lim and Ian Tagapan.

They will be complemented by the likes of Giovanni Laguyo, Jenezer Bensig, Christian Maconodico, Kevin Oledo, Maverick Suarez and Wiliam McAloney.

As usual, the Wildcats will largely depend on their veteran crew in Joshua de la Cerna, Allan Dimco,  Jeffrey Taghoy, Bridirick Brigoli and Mark Kong as well as lanky forward Jesse Aloro and spunky guards Wilkin Sanchez and Steven Bucao.

In the juniors division match, both the UV Baby Lancers and the UC Junior Webmasters will try to bounce back from a previous defeat as they take on each other at 5:15 p.m. (FREEMAN)