CEBU, Philippines - The University of Cebu Junior Webmasters rode on a furious third-quarter assault to turn back the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars, 54-49, in the opening match of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. season yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Jayson Abejo charted a game-high 17 points, but the monster showing of Froiland Mangubat spelled big difference as the Junior Webmasters kicked off their campaign on a high noted.
Asserting his inside presence with authority, Mangubat pulled down 24 rebounds laced with 15 points, six steals and four assists for the Juniors Webmasters, who gamely shrugged of a sluggish start.
The UC bantams trailed by six points at halftime, 21-27, but used a decisive 24-13 rally in the third period to turn the tide of the match in their favor for good. They never looked after gaining a five-point headway, 50-45, going into the final 10 minutes of play.
Geo Ibero paced the Baby Jaguars with 14 points, while Jude Benedict Teleron nailed 11 markers in a losing cause.
Meanwhile, the Southwestern University Cobras, with only nine players in tow, will start their title retention bid in the collegiate division as they battle the University of San Carlos Warriors of rookie coach Britt Reroma at 5:30 p.m. today.
In the other seniors match of a heavy quadruple-header, Gary Cortes will make his debut as head coach of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats at 4 p.m.
USC's junior counterparts will battle the Don Bosco Greywolves in the curtain raiser at 1 p.m., while the Baby Lancers face off with the Wildkittens at 2 p.m. (FREEMAN)