Fajardo powers UC five to Final 4

MANILA, Philippines –  CESAFI champion University of Cebu routed University of San Carlos, 83-67, to clinch a semifinal berth in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Cebu City Coliseum.

Junemar Fajardo dished out a double-double job of 30 points and 20 rebounds as he powered the Webmasters to the victory and the right to represent the southern region in the semifinals.

UC, which dethroned nine-time champion University of the Visayas in Cebu’s top collegiate league, will face either three-time UAAP champion Ateneo, Mapua, National University or Interscholastics Athletic Association titlist Lyceum in the Final Four.

Kelvin Juliane added 18 points while Edward Pao added 15 points for the Webmasters, who rode on a big second quarter run to seize control.

UAAP runner-up Far Eastern University, meanwhile, shrugged off a so-so stint in the first half to beat Jose Rizal University, 64-60, and earn a ticket to the Elite Eight.

The Tamaraws, playing without top center Aldrech Ramos who was with the Smart Gilas team in the Asian Games, fell behind by as many as 14 points twice in the first half. But they fought back in the last two periods behind Reil Cervantes.

Cervantes shot 16 points, including eight in the final quarter with the last two points shoving the Tams to a 61-59 lead with 2:07 left in the contest. He also added seven boards.

FEU will next face the winner in San Sebastian-Adamson encounter.