Lancers, Warriors keep clean records in CESAFI
The University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of San Carlos Warriors easily dumped their lightweight rivals to keep their unbeaten records intact in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Former Philippine Youth team member Leonard Santillan and Alwyn Aguirre each scored 13 points as the Lancers blasted the University of Cebu Webmasters, 77-62, to firm up their grip of the solo lead with an immaculate 3-0 slate, while the Warriors quickly shrugged off a sluggish start to pounce the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers, 88-64, that gave them a similarly bright 2-0 start.
Kent Mendoza chipped in 12 points for the wards of coach Gary Cortes, who kept the Webmasters at bay after closing the first half with a 41-27 edge, which later turned to 18 points, 55-37, with three minutes left in the third quarter.
The Webmasters sliced the deficit down to a single digit, 50-59, after Justin Dacalos and Joseph Mayol bombarded three consecutive triples, but that proved to be their last stand as the Lancers countered with a 14-2 spurt to establish their biggest lead at 21 points, 73-52, with three minutes left to play.
Dacalos was the lone double-digit scorer with 16 points for the Webmasters, who absorbed their second loss in three starts.
In the nightcap, Shooster Olago sparkled with 26 points spiked with 12 rebounds, while Ian Tagapan nailed 13 markers for the Warriors, who used an 18-2 blitz to turn an early 6-16 deficit into a 2418 lead midway in the second period.
The Panthers were in the thick of the fight for the last time at 30-34 as the Warriors launched their second wave of attack, 22-5, to break the game wide open, 56-35, with five minutes remaining in the third canto. Kevin Oleodo's three consecutive 3-pointers gave the Warriors an unassailable 84-56 lead although their biggest stood at 27 points, 88-61, with only 40 seconds left to play.
An added blow to the Panthers' losing cause is Wisdom Ceniza, who was thrown out of the game after commiting his second unsportsmanlike foul against Olago at the 5:26 mark of the third quarter.
Aside from an automatic one-game suspension and a P5,000 fine, Ceniza will also be compelled to serve four-hour community service under the supervision of the Cebu City Sports Commission, a first in CESAFI history.
In the juniors division, Andrew Velasco, Patrick Yu and Phil Renzo Calumpang connived for 36 points to power the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles to their second straight win at the expense of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens, 72-47, while Ain Obenza exploded with 30 points as the USPF Baby Panthers blasted the UC Junior webmasters, 9368, for their first victory of
the season.