Jaguars crush Panthers for third win in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Jose-Recoletos  (USJ-R) Jaguars trounced the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 75-52, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24

basketball tournament on Thursday night, October 17, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Al James Calizar sizzled with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists, while Elmer Echavez Jr. dished out a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds laced with two assists and two steals to help the Jaguars stay at fourth place in college division standings with a 3-2 win-loss record.

Felvic Dorado added 10 points and six rebounds for the Jaguars, who ripped the game apart early on with a 20-5 advantage after the opening session.

The Jaguars continued to pounce on the hapless Panthers to blow up their lead to as much as 26 points, 71-45, late in the lopsided duel.

Peter John Peteros nailed 12 markers on top of three rebounds and three steals while John Howard Ta-ala scored 11 points with five rebounds but to no avail as the Panthers plummeted to their third straight loss after a rousing start.

In high school play, the University of the Visayas (UV) bounced back from a shocking defeat to the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats.

But the Baby Lancers had to pass through the wringer first before getting rid of the gritty University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) via a 65-64 cliffhanger.

The closely-fought battle was accounted for a total of 12 lead changes.

 Roderick Cambarijan Jr. almost singlehandedly carried the Baby Lancers to their fourth victory with 19 points and 15 rebounds spiked with one assist and five steals.

No other player cracked double figures for the Baby Lancers, who found themselves in a three-way tie with the Grand Slam-seeking Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles  and the USJ-R Baby Jaguars on identical 4-1 slates.

Dan Mitchell Ferraren and Prince Juver Neil Mallorca finished with 13 points for UCLM, which fell to 1-5.