CEBU, Philippines — The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters produced another balanced offensive performance to pummel the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 84-65, and preserve their perfect record in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 men’s basketball tournament on Thursday night, November 14, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Two of the five UC players who cracked twin digits registered a double-double as the Webmasters of coach Kernn Sesante secured the top seeding going into the highly anticipated Final Four with an immaculate 7-0 slate.
Danie Boy Lapiz led the Webmasters with 13 points, three rebounds and two steals, while Jhiey Paraldo, Ray Charles Libatog and Jasper Pacaña tallied 12 markers apiece.
Libatog and Paraldo also combined for 21 rebounds while Ricofer Sordilla added 11 points for the Webmasters, who moved on the doorstep of completing a historic eight-game sweep in the elimination round.
That is something they haven’t accomplished even during the time of June Mar Fajardo when UC won back-to-back championships in the league’s 2010 and 2011 seasons.
The Webmasters could reach that milestone if they beat the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs on November 26.
John Rey Guinita finished with 17 points while Jerian Marc Abello and Nono Matthew Paras chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively, but to no avail as the Wildcats dropped to 2-4.
The Wildcats though still have a chance to make it to the semifinals by virtue of a simple tie against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars if they hurdle their last two assignments against the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges (CRMC) Mustangs and the BC Cheetahs.
In the juniors division, Jan Vince Oringo stole the show with 18 points and 13 rebounds as the USJ-R Baby Jaguars escaped with a thrilling 64-62 victory over the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) to stay on top of the table with a 9-1 card.
The Baby Jaguars could lock the No.1 spot and a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis if they tame the CRMC Mustangs in their 2 p.m. duel today (Saturday, November 16).