Pastor saves Eagles
Pastor scores 11 in 4th quarter to lead SHS-Ateneo, 63-53, over UC in Game 2 of Cesfi finals
EROLL Pastor made up for his lack-luster performance as he seared the defense of the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters to lead defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis, 63-53, in Game 2 of the 2015 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) High School Basketball title at the Cebu Coliseum.
The series is now tied at 1-1 and the two teams will meet in the deciding Game 3 on Saturday at 3 p.m. still at the Cebu Coliseum.
SHS-AdC was flirting with disaster until Pastor broke loose to lead the Magis Eagles in the final period, scoring 11 of his game high 23 points as the defending champions proved once again that they are still the kings of the open court game.
Defensively, the Magis Eagles held the offensive output of Baby Webmasters spitfire Gelmart Umpad and starting center Luigi Gabisan below their Game 1 production while Travis Mantua and Jed Colonia were back to their old selves in delivering the goods for SHS-AdC.
“We just motivated the boys. That’s what we just did. We all knew that, that was not their game (in Game 1). So we just told them to rebound and keep their focus. There were some adjusts in defense and in offense we emphasize the transition,” SHS-AdC coach Rommel Rasmo told Sun.Star Cebu.
SHS-AdC showed patience and tough defense to take a 12-9 lead after the first quarter but Froilan Mangubat started a run with two triples to help UC take the lead 17-16.
But it was not enough as Pastor started to get hot and scored six in a 14-2 run that gave SHS-AdC a 30-19 lead with 55.2 seconds left to play in the first half. Jason Abejo scored the last four baskets of the second quarter that put UC within 30-23 at the buzzer.
UC came out strong at the start of the third quarter as Mangubat and Abejo helped the Baby Webmasters start a 15-2 blast for a 41-39 lead at the start of the fourth period.
The fourth quarter was trying for the Baby Webmasters as they struggled without the productions of Gabisan and Umpad, while Pastor was the receiving end of Colonia’s unselfish quarterbacking in their fastbreak game.
SHS-AdC also got a boost from back-up center Christian Manaytay, who did not only give starting center Wayne Bersaluna time to rest but have also proved worthy of coach Rasmo’s trust and confidence.
Mantua contributed 11 points and Colonia scored 10 for SHS-AdC. Mangubat led UC with 19 points and Abejo made 13.