10 September 2019
CEBU CITY—The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers drew a solid game from their American reinforcement as they stunned the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 78-72, in the collegiate game of the 19th Cesafi basketball tournament on Tuesday night, September 10, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Foreign student-athlete Sameen Swint exploded for 30 points to lead the Panthers, who tallied their first win after starting the tournament on a wrong foot.
Neon Chavez backed Swint with 19 points.
Tosh Sesay fired 19 points, while Shane Menina chipped in 15 for UC, which dropped its second straight game to fall to 0-2 (win-loss).
In the high school division, the defending champions UC Baby Webmasters quickly flexed their muscles right away as they started their back-to-back championship bid with a shocking 87-46 dumping of the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers.
In a rematch of last year’s title match, Maczi Micutuan shone bright for UC and tallied 19 points. King Balaga and Kenyon Pondoc donated 16 and 12 points, respectively.
UC’s win proved to be costly as Isiah Blanco, son of PBA legend Dondon Hontiveros, limped out late in the third period after spraining his left ankle following a bad fall.
Dave Basalo led the Baby Lancers with 16 while Samuel Melicor had 11.
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