Webmasters stay alive

Garciano Puerto rifled 20 points, Cameroonian import Frederick Elombi

sizzled with 19 markers, while three others cashed in double

figures as the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters clobbered the twice-tobeat University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 81-70, to stay alive in the collegiate division semifinals of the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum

last night.

Joren Tagudin chipped in 14 points, while John Calvin Jabello and Justine Dacalos had 23 points in between them as the Webmasters gained a much needed morale-booster as they take on the Jaguars anew in a do-or-die game this Saturday for a finals berth.

So dominant were the Webmasters that not even their avalanche of turnovers that were translated by Jaguars into garbage points in the closing minutes of the contest could prevent them from extending their season, at least for a game.

The Jun Noel-mentored Jaguars actually dictated the pace of the match early on but they were on top for the last time at 32-31 at the Webmasters staged a lightning 15-2 attack to seize control of the match, 46-34, with just 30 seconds into halftime.

The Webmasters of legendary coach Raul 'Yayoy' Alcoseba kept their guns ablaze in the third period to outpoint the struggling Jaguars, 22-12, and stretch their lead to 20 points, 68-48, on a buzzer-beating mediumrange jumper by Puerto.

UC further staggered USJR after establishing a 26point advantage twice, the last was at 78-52, midway in the final period. The rest, they say, is history.

It was a resounding twinkill for UC.

In the juniors play, John Bryl Cuyos unloaded 18 of his game-high 25 points in the final half as the Junior Webmasters trounced the Baby Jaguars, 87-73, in their knockout quarterfinal match.

The Junior Webmasters still have a mountain to climb though as they will face next four-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles who enjoy twice-tobeat advantage in the semifinals scheduled on Thursday.

Cuyos was heavily backed up by Dave Peligrino, Yannick Enriquez and Kyle Ordeniza with 13 points each, enough to offset the ice-cold performance of UC star player Virlou Orquez.

The two sides figured in a tight battle in the early goings resulting into several deadlocks but the last one stood at 29-all as the Junior Webmasters launched a blistering 19-6 rally in between the second and third quarters to take a 48-35 lead.

It was cruise control for UC from there onwards. The Baby Jaguars came threateningly close for the last time at 57-62 as the wards of coach Joever 'Brad' Samonte dropped a 21-8 bomb to virtually put the win their bag with an unassailable 18-point advantage, 83-65, with a little over two minutes left to play.

Dave Ando finished with 21 points but got no ample support from the rest of his teammates as the Baby Jaguars headed to the exit.