UP Cebu gets breakthrough win in CESAFI Season 26 cage wars

CEBU, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons turned back the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Webmasters, 66-59, to barge into the win column of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 basketball tournament Wednesday night, September 30,

at the Cebu Coliseum.

AJ de los Reyes scored a game-high 19 points with three rebounds, three assists and three steals to help the Fighting Maroons snap their four-game losing skid.

The Iskos trailed by six early on but fought back with aplomb to seize the lead, 43-38, midway through the third period before stretching it to as high as 12 points in the fourth quarter and never looking back.

Dan Mitchell Ferraren tallied 14 points, one rebound and one assist for UCLM, which fell to 1-6.

In the high school division, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Junior Wildcats edged the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, 65-60.

Theo Maxim Santiago finished with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Mark Ivan Geraldez also had 11 points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals as the Junior Wildcats improved to 4-1.

Liam Terrence Chua and Jancy Llyco Ventura posted 10 points and four rebounds apiece for the Baby Lancers, who absorbed their second loss in three games.