18 June 2019
CEBU CITY—The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars pulled off a big surprise as they nailed their first victory at the expense of the erstwhile unbeaten JoeMang’s Surplus-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 82-79, in the college division of the 2019 CESAFI Partner’s Cup on Tuesday, June 18, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Jaguars outmanuevered the Webmasters at crunch time as their hustle plays paved the way for their first win after suffering back-to-back losses to start the competition.
The Webmasters bungled double-digit leads and saw their three-game win streak come to an end.
USJ-R trailed for most part of the game but wrested the lead late in the game, 75-73, on a booming three-pointer by Renz Solomon.
UC answered with a 6-2 run to retake the lead, 79-77. USJ-R’s Cameroonian import Arnold Azangue scored on a putback that knotted the score at 79-all with 35 seconds left.
UC’s Tristan Albina committed a turnover in the next play and Azangue was fouled in USJ-R’s possession.
Azangue made the first gift shot for an 80-79 lead. He missed the second attempt but Albina committed another mistake when he lost the ball with 16.2 ticks to go.
Elmer Echavez muffed two free throws but Solomon was quick to the ball and collared the offensive rebound.
Two freebies by Solomon handed the Jaguars an 82-79 edge with 3.5 seconds left and Darrell Shane Menina missed a potential game-tying triple at the buzzer.
Azangue paced the Jaguars with 17 points while Solomon and Echavez chipped in 14 each.
Tosh Sesay topped UC with 18. Menina and Albina scored 15 apiece.
In the high school division, the Tough Gear-Southwestern University (SWU) Baby Cobras snatched their second win in three matches with a 68-55 win over the University of Cebu-Lapu Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Campus.
Dezeo Villanueva scored 12 points for the Baby Cobras, Charles Libatog contributed nine, while John Dave Aznar and Aaron Nopal tallied eight each.
UCLM fell to 0-3.
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