USPF ELIMINATES UV

USPF boots UV out of the 1st City of Naga InterCollegiate Basketball Tournament on quotient system

University of Southern Philippines (USPF) Panthers eliminated heavily-favored and decorated University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 103-92, in the 1st City of Naga Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament last Monday night, March 4, at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in Naga City.

The win forced a triple tie between USPF, UV and University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters at 1-1 in Group A.

UV beat UC, 93-89, last Sunday, March 3, while the Panthers lost to the Webmasters, 72-70, in the opening night last Saturday.

USPF finished first place in Group A with a +9 on the quotient system, UC ended up at second with a -2, while UV was eliminated after finishing at the bottom with a -7.

After trailing by 16 points at halftime, UV made a comeback in the middle of the fourth quarter but the Green Lancers got close to just eight points.

Rich Managor led USPF’s win with 19 points, EJ Villarta added 15, while Graggy Saharina and Kenneth Cada added 13 each.

Melvin Butohan scored 14, while Jafet Claridad had 13 in a losing effort by UV, the defending Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) collegiate division champions.

Meanwhile, University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars crushed import-less Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 7564, in Group B.

With the inside presence of Tochukwu Ewinike, the Jaguars dominated in the paint. USJ-R led by as much as 20 points in the third quarter and held on up until the end for a comfortable win.

USJ-R faces off with USPF, while UC takes on University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the semifinals on March 10. /