Webmasters notch fifth straight win, Cheetahs pull an upset vs Lancers

CEBu, Philippines —  The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters rolled to their fifth consecutive victory while the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs stunned the three-time defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Sunday, October 26, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Luther Leonard shined with 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a block while Joseph Nalos added 11 points as the Webmasters upended the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 64-55, to take the solo lead in college division with a 7-1 win-loss record.

John Cark Angelio grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his eight points for the Webmasters, who were down by eight, 4-12, in the early goings but never looked back after wresting the driver’s seat, 36-32, at halftime.

It was cruise control from there for the Webmasters, who led by as much as 14 points, 62-48, midway in the fourth period.

  The Cheetahs, on the other hand, overhauled a 13-point deficit in the opening quarter on the way to hand the Lancers their worst defeat of the season, 76-65.

Trailing 13-26 early on, the Cheetahs staged a fierce counterattack in the middle quarters to take full control of the match with an 18-point advantage, 70-52, late in the game.

Kenneth Babalcon finished with 13 points while Junil Bulan and Serge Gabines tallied 11 markers apiece for the Cheetahs, who now hold a 5-2 slate after dealing the Lancers their second setback.

In the other collegiate matches, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers and the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats both improved to 2-5 after edging past separate foes.

Keaton Clyde Taburnal sizzled with 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists while Paul Daniell Acille Apolonio bagged 10 points and five rebounds to propel the Panthers to a 64-59 whacking of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

Jerian Marc Abello banged in 17 points and four boards while Keith Khodie Piodo scattered 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Wildcats escaped the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons, 63-61.

In high school play, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons extended their hot streak to five games with a 74-59 rout of the listless San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors, while the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) prevailed over the UC Baby Webmasters, 80-77, in a duel of sister teams.

Mart Justine Parilla and Reyvene Remando Arobo each scored 15, Llouie Jay Estorba chipped in 14 points while Mohammad Yusoph Dimaporo produced a solid double-double show of 10 points and 17 rebounds as the Dragons cruised to their best 5-1 start since their historic campaign in 2010 when they delivered CEC’s first and only championship crown.

Dan Mitchell Ferraren fired 27 points with five rebounds, one assist, and two steals to drag UCLM to its fifth win in seven matches.

In the other results, the USJ-R Jaguar Cubs clobbered the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC)-Cebu Greywolves, 90-64, while the CIT-U Baby Wildcats spanked the UV Baby Lancers 54-44.

Michael Jay Villasin dished out an all-around performance of 28 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, three steals, and one block to help raise the Jaguar Cubs’ mark to 3-4.

Keiff Russel Suarez posted 12 points while Cyrus Joeff Abadies, Randel Jay Mendaros, and Jero Deniel Rosellosa had identical 10 points as the Baby Wildcats triumphed for the third time in five starts.