The three-time defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers stretched their unbeaten streak to five games while the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats scored a breakthrough win in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum over the weekend.
Paul John Taliman bagged 19 points on top of five rebounds, one assist and two steals while the league’s 2023 MVP Kent Ivo Salarda nearly delivered a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and four steals as the Lancers pummeled the University of the Philippines (UP)-Cebu Fighting Maroons, 92-74, to pull away further in the leaderboard with a perfect 5-0 record.
Not to be outdone, Rovello Robles cashed in 16 points, four rebounds and two steals while Zylle Cabellon added 10 points, two rebounds, seven assists and four steals for the Lancers, who used a fierce second-half attack to thrash the Fighting Maroons.
Ahead by just six at halftime, 43-37, the Lancers staged a sizzling rally bridging the third and fourth quarters to lead by as much as 21 points, 83-62, that sent the Fighting Maroons reeling the rest of the way.
Andrew Padilla topped UP with a game-high 20 points laced with six rebounds and three assists.
AJ de los Reyes, Wenraye Sarol, and Kent Joshua Cabanlit combined for 33 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists but fell short in the end as the Fighting Maroons stayed listless in three starts.
In the other collegiate duel, the Wildcats outfoxed the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 72-65, to give their new head coach Felix ‘Donbel’ Belano, Jr. his first victory.
Jerian Marc Abello was the man of the hour for the Wildcats with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals as they snapped a three-game jinx.
Regie Ayon, Bruce Angelo Pinuela, and John Rey Guinita connived for 27 points, 22 rebounds, six assists, and two steals while Christ Mark Codillo also made his presence felt with 12 rebounds to go with his seven points, two assists and a steal for the Wildcats, who never looked back after establishing a 13-point advantage, 59-46, early in the final period.
Keaton Clyde Taburnal finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and two steals, Janjan Peteros scored 12 with one rebound, two assists, and three steals, while John Howard Taala had 11 points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals but to no avail as the Panthers dropped to 1-2.
In high school play, the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters and the Benedicto College (BC) Baby Cheetahs both improved their records to 2-1 after trouncing their respective rivals.
Jape Mamza fired 22 points with eight rebounds, one assist and three steals while John Day Jorquia posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds to power the Baby Webmasters to a 77-57 rout of the USPF Baby Panthers.
In the other result, Kyle Nalisa produced an all-around performance of 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and four blocks while Lance Andrei Villarin and Hans Alcantara tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and three blocks in between them as the Baby Cheetahs sent the San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors crashing to their third straight loss, 62-48.