MANILA, Philippines - University of San Carlos stopped Southwestern University, 53-47, to even their title series at one game apiece in the CESAFI-Cebu and PCCL Overall Southern Island championships at the Cebu City Coliseum last Tuesday.
The Warriors, who dropped the opener, 59-55, used a strong start, 17-5, and 28-19, to seize control then held on and outscored the Cobras, 14-10, in the final quarter to send their best-of-five series to where it started last Monday.
Shooster Olago led the USC Warriors with 17 points and eight rebounds.
The SWU Cobras are hoping to become the first team to cop the Visayas-Mindanao title back-to-back while the USC Warriors are out to end the Cobras and University of Visayas’ reign in CESAFI basketball.
In the Vis-Min Qualifying knockout games, University of San Jose-Recoletos eliminated Negros Occidental-Recoletos, 88-82, with Gaiver Fletcher and Kevin Villafranca leading the Jaguars with 23 and 18 points, respectively.
The Jaguars will meet CESAFI third placer University of Visayas for a spot in the Elite Eight stage of the 2014 National Collegiate Championship.