CRMC turns back UP Cebu to nail first win in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs launched a decisive endgame attack to upend the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons, 78-71, and barge into the win column of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament on Thursday night, October 3, at the Cebu Coliseum.

Keaton Clyde Taburnal almost single-handedly carried the Mustangs over the Fighting Maroons with a game-high 26 points laced with nine rebounds, one assist, and two steals.

Interestingly, Taburnal collected more than half of his offensive output from the foul line where he drilled in 14 out of 18 attempts.

Dale Andre Clark Otero was the only other double-digit scorer for CRMC with 10 points on top of five rebounds.

The likes of Redjhee Recimiento, Jhaylord Castro, and Jonathan Vanguardia also made significant contribution with 26 combined points as the Mustangs snapped out of their two-game jinx.

UP Cebu actually jumped to a hot 7-0 start but CRMC retaliated quickly to knot the count at 9-all. A nip and tuck battle ensued.

The Fighting Maroons were on top for the last time at 70-68 as the Mustangs staged a 7-0 blitz to seize the lead, 75-70, for good in the closing seconds of the contest.

Overall, the Mustangs outclassed the Fighting Maroons, 18-9, in the final six minutes.

Kent Joshua Cabanlit posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds while Jose Zaldy Dizon netted 14 points, four rebounds, five assists, and four steals but their impressive showing went in vain as the Fighting Maroons suffered their first loss.

On the other hand, the two-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles secured their first victory of the season via a 78-52 thrashing of league newcomer Benedicto College Baby Cheetahs.

Alden Paul Cainglet sizzled with 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Magis Eagles readily bounced back from their stinging 71-75 setback at the hands of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars last week.

Rodolfo Froilan Maglasang contributed 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals while Lian Kent Basa added 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block for the Magis Eagles, who used a sizzling 31-19 run in the second quarter to send the Baby Cheetahs reeling the rest of the way.

Joseph Carl Demaclid, John Kenneth Bihag and Kyle Andre Nalisa combined for 31 points but to no avail as the listless Baby Cheetahs crashed to their fourth consecutive defeat.