UP Cebu cagers to get new pair of shoes after winning first game

CEBU, Philippines — At the end of his pep talk with the University of the Philippines Cebu men’s basketball team before their season-opening assignment in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), former UP star Mr. ‘Atin To’ Paul Desiderio promised all the players a new pair of shoes if they win their first game.

It’s going to happen.

Drawing extra motivation from the encouraging words of Desiderio who even cheered them on from the sidelines, the Fighting Maroons dug deep when the game was on the line to fend off the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 74-64, for a winning start in the CESAFI Season 24 basketball tournament on Thursday night, September 26, at the Cebu Coliseum.

“I already messaged my teammates Jun Manzo and Janjan Jaboneta and the other alumni to help me out and show support for UP Cebu,” said Desiderio, whose prophetic ‘Atin ‘to’ line during an epic game against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigers in 2017 has since become a shining symbol of UP renaissance in UAAP hoopdom.

Against the Wildcats, the Fighting Maroons trailed for most of the way and were still down by two, 56-58, midway in the final period until Jose Zaldy Dizon instigated a daring endgame assault that catapulted them to a come-from-behind triumph.

Dizon delivered a crucial five-point swing as UP Cebu closed the match with a searing 18-6 blitz to turn back the Wildcats. He finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.

Kent Joshua Cabanlit and Matthew Earl Flores both came up with a dazzling all-around performance as the Fighting Maroons started their campaign on the right foot.

Cabanlit netted 18 points, 13 rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and two steals, while Flores was similarly impressive with 13 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block.

Nono Matthew Paras led the Wildcats with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Jerian Marc Abello also had 12 points in a losing effort.

In high school play, Julio Joaquin Larrazabal and Jyle Andrey Roa shared the limelight as the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Blue Dragons coasted to their second straight victory with an 81-65 rout of the CIT-U Baby Wildcats.

Larrazabal sizzled with 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Roa banged in 20 points and five assists for the Dragons.

Lybron James Lamo added 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Mark Justine Parilla chipped in with 12 points for the Dragons, who shrugged off a lukewarm start to rip the game apart with a 53-34 lead at halftime.