Warriors hand Cheetahs first loss

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors dealt the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs their first defeat, 51-47, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Thursday, October 9, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Trailed by a hairline, 41-42, after three quarters, the Warriors seized the upper hand, 46-43, in the final five minutes before hanging on to a precarious four-point triumph.

Kyle Maglinte was the lone double-digit scorer in the low-scoring game, churning in 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, and three steals as the Warriors evened their record at 2-2.

The injury-depleted Cheetahs, on the other hand, saw their three-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.

In high school play, the five-peat seeking Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu(SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles escaped the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 65-63, for their second straight win.

The Baby Panthers valiantly fought back after being down by six points late in the game to pull within a matchstick, 63-64, but Lian Kent Basa split his charities in the last three seconds to settle the final tally for the Magis Eagles.

The Baby Panthers actually had one last shot to steal the match but Luke Brent Dy misfired on a desperate 3-pointer as the time expired.

Basa finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals while Henry Kristoffer Suico produced a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds with four assists for the Magis Eagles.

Jhonrey Recio added 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and two blocks for the only unbeaten team in the juniors division.

Dy tallied 14 points with nine rebounds, two steals and a block while Champ Davidson Brigoli had 12 points, four rebounds and one steal but to no avail as the Baby Panthers fell to 2-2.