BABY JAGUARS OUTLASTS USPF IN OT
USJ-R survives late run by USPF, beats Baby Panthers in overtime for fourth win in Cesafi
The University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars needed an extra period to dispose off a determined University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 77-69, in the high school division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
USJ-R entered the fourth quarter with a comfortable 5142 lead after a strong first three quarters led by Mathew Paras. USPF, with its pesky defense, slowly chipped off USJ-R’s lead thanks to Neon Chavez’s sweet shooting and Rojan Montemayor’s inside presence.
Montemayor finally tied the game at 65-65 with a basket down low with 59.9 seconds left.
USPF had a lot of chances to win it but missed all three of its attempts--a reverse lay up by John Maglasang, a shot inside the paint by Montemayor that looked like he was fouled and a corner three-pointer by Chavez with a second remaining that bounced off the rim.
It was close in the first minute of overtime but USJ-R capitalized on USPF’s turnovers and widened tha gap by outscoring the Baby Panthers, 8-2, in the next four minutes.
Paras led USJ-R with 21 points, Kevin Guibao had 14, while Kendrick Abarquez and Keith Co added 11 each.
Montemayor and Ian Paquibot scored 13 points each for USPF, while Chavez conteobuted 11.
In the other high school games, the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters crushed Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wild Kittens, 64-45, while University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors beat Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 59-53.
Idle University of the Visayas is still at the top with a 4-0 slate, while UC remained at second with a 5-1 record. USJ-R kept its third rank with a 4-2 slate. USC is fourth at 3-1. /