22 September 2018
CEBU CITY—The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters survived an endgame scare from the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors to escape with a 69-65 triumph in the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Sunday night, September 22, at the Cebu Coliseum here.
John Jabello fired 18 points and Paul Galinato contributed 14 markers as the Webmasters preserved their immaculate slate at 7-0 (win-loss).
UC’s Cameroonian import Frederick Elombi was also solid as he piled up 13 points, seven rebounds and an incredible eight steals.
While Jabello, Galinato and Elombi put in superb numbers, the Webmasters could have not done it without Justine Dacalos’ endgame brilliance.
USC was threatening at 60-62 but Dacalos dropped a booming triple that gave UC a five-point cushion in the dying minutes.
The Warriors pulled within 62-65 on free throws by John Reel Saycon but Dacalos again came up with a big play by knocking down a gift shot and scoring in the paint for a 68-62 UC lead with only 1:31 left.
Dacalos went on to finish with 11 points and nine rebounds.
In the main game, the defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers bagged their fifth win in eight matches by nosing out the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 84-83.
Rey Suerte shoved UV ahead, 84-83, with 11 seconds to go and USJ-R couldn’t steal the win when Segamars Ewenike missed a shot at the buzzer.
Suerte paced the Green Lancers with 30 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Bassieru Sackor contributed 14 points while Gileant Delator added 13 for UV.
USJ-R tasted its fifth loss in seven games.
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