Landmasters win debut

Cebu Landmasters/USC pulls off come-from-behind win over San Marino/CIT in Partners Cup

THE Cebu Landmasters-backed University of San Carlos Warriors proved to be a strong title contender as they won their debut game with a come-frombehind 71-68 win over the San Marino Corned Tuna/Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats in the EnervonCesafi Partner’s Cup 2013 held at the Cebu Coliseum Sunday evening.

Today, opening day winners defending champions Prime Asia Lending/ University of the Visayas Green Lancers will have their hands full against the rebellious Lion-Tiger Aerosols/University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers in the opening game at 4 p.m., while the Cebu Landmasters will shoot for its second win against the Gaisano Capital South-University of Cebu Webmasters in the main game at 6 p.m.

Prime Asia scored an easy 80-57 win over Gaisano Capital while Lion-Tiger domi- nated Raphael’s Cafe/University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars for a 63-57 victory.

Cebu Landmasters was trailing all the way until the 4:50 mark of the fourth period.

However, things started to look up for coach Julian Macoy when Ian Ortega knocked down a triple, Stephen Que scored on a fastbreak and Nico Magat nailed his own triple for the Landmasters to turn the game around in their favor, 62-55 with 3:34 left to play.

San Marino Corned Tuna managed to stay close and tied the game at 68-all after Vincent Menguito’s split free throws at the final 30.2 seconds mark.

But bullstrong Garrick Ayala broke the deadlock five seconds later and Que split his charities to seal the win for the Warriors.

Ayala topscored for Cebu Landmasters with 15 points, while Que added 13.