UC Webmasters crowned champions in Davao tourney

MANILA, Philippines — The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters unleashed a furious offensive storm in the second half to trounce San Pedro College (SPC), 76-59, in their sudden-death final duel and secure the championship crown of the 89th Araw Ng Dabaw Invitational Basketball Tournament last Sunday night, March 15, at the Davao City Recreation Center.

Spunky guard Ricofer Sordilla once again performed remarkably well for the Webmasters with 19 points on top of four rebounds, two assists and a steal to become the hands choice as Finals Most Valuable Player.

Do-it-all forward Luther Leonard complemented Sordilla’s efforts with 17 points, three rebounds and one assist for the Webamsters, who saw themselves trailing by two points, 34-36, at halftime.

But the Webmasters staged a sizzling 20-10 counterattack in the third period to seize the upper hand, 54-46, going into the last10-minute zone of the contest.

After UC took a double-digit edge, 59-47, with just two minutes gone by the final quarter, SPC could only pull within 51-59 as Carlo Salgarino scored on an electrifying slam dunk before Leonard and Neon Chavez connived for nine points in a 16-2 blitz that dragged the Cebuano visitors to their biggest lead of 22 points, 75-53, with less than three minutes left to play.

At that point, the pro-SPC fans have started exiting the arena.

Chavez finished with nine points on an effective 3-of-5 shooting from the field including two 3-pointers.

Overall, the Webmasters outclassed their Davaoeño rivals in the final half, 42-23, resulting in a 17-point demolition that gave them their first title of the year.

John Rodulfa sizzled with a game-high 20 points while Keith Marquez and Jimz Lulab tallied 10 markers apiece but their efforts went down the drain for SPC.