The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars outsmarted the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 76-63, to barge into the win column of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Friday, October 3, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Fritz Gonzales posted 16 points and two rebounds while Christian Carl Sollano tossed in 14 points on a spectacular 7-of-8 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block to help the Jaguars recover from back-to-back defeats.
The Jaguars trailed by six, 24-30, late in the second period, but unleashed a fierce offensive in the second half to send the Wildcats reeling towards their third loss in four games.
Still down 30-32 at the break, the Jaguars suddenly waxed hot and pounded the unsuspecting Wildcats, 36-16, bridging the third and fourth quarters to surge ahead by as much as 18 points, 66-48, in the final five-minute mark.
Serafin Duarte was the lone double-digit scorer for the Wildcats with 12 points on top of five boards, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
In the high school level, the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Baby Webmasters used a sizzling 30-7 start to dominate the San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors, 81-70.
Dan Mitchell Ferraren spearheaded UCLM’s balanced attack with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Noe Lingoste tallied 16 markers, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals, Rafael Calo added 15 points, six rebounds, one assist, and three steals while Wade Adam Luche contributed 13 points, six rebounds, one assist, and three steals as UCLM improved to 2-1.
Neil Ashley Ibarita paced the Baby Warriors with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, and five steals. Joshua Pilapil registered a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds with two assists and three steals while Heath Lauren Macapil and John Khino Buslon combined for 25 points and 15 rebounds but their efforts proved futile as the young Carolinians remained winless in four st