Webmasters edge Jaguars, take early lead in CESAFI
The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters launched fierce offensive in the second quarter, then quelled a spirited a endgame challenge by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) to escape with a 72-64 win over the Jaguars in the 18th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
UC's three-guard combo in John Calvin Jabello, Darrell Shane Menina and Justine Dacalos dealt the most destructive punch on the Jaguars as the Webmasters took the early lead in the collegiate division with a clean 2-0 record.
Jabello rifled 21 points, Menina tossed in 17 points and Dacalos nailed 14 markers for the Webmasters, who quickly wiped up an early 0-4 deficit to seize control of the match after the first 10 minutes of play, 13-9.
Jabello and 6-foot8 Cameroonian import Frederick Elombi then stole a show as the Webmasters greeted the second period with a 12-0 bang, holding the Jaguars scoreless for nearly seven minutes to raise their lead to 24-9.
Elmer Echavez ended USJ-R's scoring drought with a triple, then RJ Dinolan scored four straight points but UC still came out on top by a double-digit at halftime, 30-18.
UC's largest edge stood at 21 points, 61-40, at the final 7:12 mark of the contest.
The Jaguars could only chase within just five points, 64-69, on a closerange shot by their 6-foot-10 reinforcement Tochukwu Ewenike with 33 seconds remaining in the game as Dacalos and Peter Paul Codilla went 3-of-4 from the line to wrap up the match for UC.
Dinolan and reigning CESAFI Seniors MVP Jaybie Mantilla had a combined total of 33 points in a losing effort for the Jaguars.