Warriors move one win away from CESAFI title
The University of San Carlos Warriors are just one win away from ending their 57-year title drought as they mangled the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 87-76, to take a 2-1 lead in Game 3 of their ‘best-of-five’ finals series in the 15th Cebu Sch
The victory tomorrow will give the Warriors their first collegiate title since 1958 when the league was still known as Cebu Collegiate Athletic Association.
The Warriors' victory was a perfect timing as early birthday gift to coach Britt Reroma who is celebrating his birthday today.
Import Shooster Olago who was named the best player of the ballgame, was unstoppable in almost all departments as he outmuscled UV’s Steve Cedrick Akomo who fouled out with still 6:10 to go in the fourth period.
With Akomo out, Olago took advantage he amassed 32 points, 17 of them from the final quarter.
Olago also yanked out 17 rebounds and went 14 of 16 free throws.
Aside from Olago, Ian Jefferson Tagapan was also a big factor in their victory as he contributed 20 points along with three rebounds and two assists while rebounding monster Charles Pepito added 10 markers.
Reroma succeeded in finding the right combination of gunners in the likes of Nico Magat, Victor Rabat, Ian Ortega and Tagapan. USC’s hot outside shooting became their edge against UV’s zone defense.
After the Lancers ended the first half, 42-38, the momentum shifted as the Warriors open up an eight point advantage, 6254, late in the third quarter.
UV’s offense slowly went cold especially the aggressiveness of ace point guard June Kent Manzo who was playing with his chin wrapped up with bandage when he suffered a nasty cut in Game 2 where they evened the series, 70-63 last Tuesday.
USC applied tight defense on Manzo forcing Alfred Codilla to man the backcourt but still Manzo was able to put up 25 points. Arvie Cabanero contributed a bit late in the fourth period and finished with 11 points but the missing link was Akomo who just made nine points.
The scores: USC (87) –
Olago 32, Tagapan 20, Pepito 10, Rabat 6, Ortega 4, Lim 3, Magat 3, McAloney 3, Suarez 2, Laguyo 2, Adlawan 1
UV (76) –
Manzo 25, Cabanero 11, Akomo 9, Arong 9, Santillan 6, Segumpan 5, Codilla 4, Mendoza 3, Suerte 2, Napao 2