UC Webmasters claim last finals spot
The M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters game ly battled back from an ice-cold start, then quelled a spirited endgame resistance by Organique California-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) to scrape through an 82-79 win over the Panthers in the 2018 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
With an immaculate 5-0 record, the Webmasters are already assured of a spot in the finals where they will face the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.
The two league giants will clash not only in a finals preview of the Partner’s Cup but also in a grudge rematch of last year’s CESAFI finals this Tuesday.
Coming off a four-day stint in the Bayug an City Mayor’ s Cup Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Webmasters showed signs of fatigue early on, enabling the Panthers to sprint to ablistering20-6.
But as soon as they found their range, the Webmasters easily changed the complexion of the match in their favor.
Down by three at halftime, 40-43, the Webmasters dropped a 19-4 bomb to mount a 12-point edge ,59-47, late in the third period.
The wards of coach Yayoy Al cos eba maintained a 76-64 lead, but the Panthers countered with an 11-1 blitz to close within 75-77 on a three-point play by Graggy Sarahina with 1:31 left to play.
Paul Galinato came to UC’s rescue by sinking a free throw and a crucial long-range jumper that put the Webmasters ahead by five, 80-75, with 1:05 remaining.
The Panthers again threatened at 77-80, but Joven Tagudin canned an easy bucket offa3-in-1 play to give UC an 8277 breather with only 11.6 seconds to go.
After Rich Managor pushed USPF to within three points, the Panthers still had a chance to force an overtime when UC’s Justine Dacalos missed both his charities with 3.1 ticks left in the game clock.
Sarahina, however, threw a desperate show near the halfcourt that went airball as the timeexpired.
Six-foot-eight Cameroonian import Frederick Elombi topped the Webmasters with 19 markers, Dacalos and John Calvin Jabello each scored 17, while Galinato finished with 13 points.
Managor led USPF with 18 points followed by Sarahina with 11.