EMMANUEL B. VILLARUEL • ASST. EDITOR: LEMUEL P. MAGLINTE Jaguars on a mission
The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars gun for an important victory that would ensure them of either one of the top two spots going into the semifinal round when they face the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the 18th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games today of quotient if ever they figure in a triple-tie with the Webmasters and the Lancers having crushed the two teams with an average winning margin of 16.5 points.
That means the Jaguars should only hurdle one of their last two assignments in the double round elimination to land themselves at the top two that will enjoy twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four.
Though heavily favored, the Jaguars must brace for an all-out war as the Panthers are also needing a victory to bolster their bid of making it to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
Sporting an even 5-5 record, the Panthers are in a tight race with the 4-7 Warriors for the fourth and last semis spot in the collegiate division.
As the end of the double round elimination draws near, the battle gets interesting and more exciting save for the nonbearing match between the Cebu Institute of TechnologyUniversity (CIT-U) Wildcats and the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras at 5:30 pm.
In high school games, the Baby Panthers (2-4) will face off with the Baby Cobras (1-6) in the 1 p.m. opener, while the Baby Jaguars (4-3) will go up against the Wildkittens (2-5) at 2:30 pm.