UC spoils Don Bosco’s bid for outright semifinal entry

CEBU, Philippines -  Living up to his ‘small but terrible’ billing, Gelmart Umpad pumped in 16 of his 22 points in the final period as the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters shackled the Don Bosco Technology Center Greywolves, 69-60, in the 16th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Aside from raising their record to 6-3 in a tie with their victims, the Junior Webmasters of coach Joevir Samonte somewhat hit two birds with one stone as they also foiled the Greywolves’ bid for an automatic semifinal entry.

Umpad, who also had eight rebounds, seven steals and four assists, was heavily backed up by John Bryle Cuyos with a game-high tying 22 points laced with six rebounds, three assists and as many steals for the Junior Webmasters, who unraveled a fierce offensive bridging the third and fourth quarters to crush the Greywolves.

After a close-quarter battle in the early goings, the Greywolves stormed to a nine-point advantage, 47-38, with 2:42 left in the third canto only to be struck by disaster thereafter.

This as Umpad and Cuyos masterminded a blistering 17-0 burst that did not only wipe out the deficit but also vault the Junior Webmasters ahead by 13 points, 60-47, with 4:55 to go in the game.

Grenal Malubay ended Don Bosco’s nearly eight-minute scoring drought but their five-point swing proved futile as the Junior Webmasters quickly regained a comfortable 67-54 lead on a 3-pointer by Umpad with 1:20 to play.

Alje Mendez and John Damolo connived for 27 points for the Greywolves, who are currently at joint second and third place with the Junior Webmasters in the standings but are in danger of dropping to No.5 heading into the quarterfinal playoff.

That is mostly likely the scenario if the Cebu Eastern College Dragons will win against the Cebu Institute of Technogy-University Wildkittens today and the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers will sweep their last two games against the Southwestern University-Phinma Baby Cobras and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars.

Should that happen, the Greywolves’ road to a historic semifinal trip would be rocky and bumpy as they will figure in a grudge rematch with the Junior Webmasters, who will be armed with a a twice-to-beat incentive. (FREEMAN)