Warriors pound Panthers, 83-73

THE University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors used their vaunted three-point shooting to bail themselves out of danger for an 83-73 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the main game of the 2012 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum last night.

In the high school games, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons banked on the combined 42 points of Alfonso Alviso, Ranjie Mangyao and Neil Bracero to end a two-game slump with an 83-76 win over the USPF Baby Panthers. Reigning MVP Paul Desiderio scored 26 points and Gerald Fernandez added 20 to lead the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers over the University of Cebu (UC), 101-86; and the USC Baby Warriors scalped the Don Bosco Technological Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 88-32.

The Warriors started the game strong as Stephen Que sank back-to-back triples for an early 18-6 lead in the first quarter. But USPF came back courtesy of a 19-5 blitz by Joshua Corcilles, Joseph Sedurifa and Fritz Dajalos for a 25-23 lead at a 3:22 mark of the second canto.

The Warriors regained composure and outscored USPF, 11-6, to take over the lead, 34-31, at the halftime break.

But as the ride got rocky for USC, its three-point shooting and fastbreak plays prevented the Panthers from pulling away.

The game was still close in the first eight minutes of the fourth, but after Sedurifa got USPF to within two, 75-73, in the final 2:02, Michael Cantonao sank back-to-back triples to make it 81-73.

Sedurifa’s free throws proved to be the final points for the Panthers as Otida scored the final points at the free throw line for USC’s second victory in four games while handing USPF its fourth straight loss.

Que topscored for USC with 19 points, while Cantonao and Nico Magat had 16 and 14, respectively.

Sedurifa scored the game-high 25 points in another losing effort and Dajalos and Corcilles finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.