Thursday, August 11, 2005
USP raids USJ-R
So much for homecourt advantage. University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) fans went home with long faces Tuesday night after the visiting University of Southern Philippines (USP) Panthers decimated the Jaguars, 76-69, capping a heartbreaking tripleheader that earlier featured a thrilling 54-52 win by the Baby Panthers over the Baby Jaguars at the USJ-R Gym.
In the curtain-raising match, the defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers jumpstarted their 2005 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) campaign by slaughtering the Don Bosco College (DBC) Greywolves, 66- 48, in a rematch between last season’s Junior division finalists.
Playing in enemy territory against a bigger team that went all the way to the finals last season, the Panthers neutralized the Jaguars’ size advantage by pressing and trapping from beginning to end.
USP coach Raul Latonio, obviously delighted by the strategy after it resulted into a 41-30 halftime lead by the Panthers, continued to employ the press even as USJ-R swingmen Luke Justiniani and Herbert Arellano led the Jaguars to a spirited run in the third period.
Top scorer
Latonio’s ploy worked perfectly as the Panthers, buoyed by the stellar performances of Troy Mercader, Randy Colonia, Jason Bartolabac, Vincent Pendang, and Elvis Labares, continued to hold on to the momentum in the final quarter for the win.
Mercader topscored with 16 points for USP, which also drew 14 from Vincent Pendang and 13 from Elvis Labares. Justiniani led USJ-R with 19 points, while Arellano chipped in 13 points.
(Juniors)
UV (66) – Mercader 13, Avila 12, Cañada 11, Pitogo 8, Fuentes 4, Herruela 4, Lao 4, Cabahug 3, Belocura 2. Don Bosco (48) – Acha 13, Villamor 7, Enterina 4, Lauder 4, Suarez 4, Parilla 3, Bosque 2, Ybañez 2, Tangarorang 2.
USP (54) – Ferraren 14, Muñez, Ybañez 13, Hermosa 10, Dysam 5, Aligno 4, Cabatingan 2, Sabello 2 USJ-R (52) – Capiz 16, Abing 10, Yballe 9, Andoy 5, Cabanez 4, Alasa-as 3, Caparos 2, Manalili 2.
(Seniors)
USP (76) – Mercader 16, Pendang 14, Labares 13, Bartolabac 9, Colonia 9, Travero 9, Ceniza 2, Gallarde 2, Geraldez 2. USJ-R (69) – Justiniani 19, Arellano 13, Maconocido 10, Ponce 7, Carilla 4, Gonzalez 2, Gudez 2, Hatague 2, Malinao 2, Pogoy 2, Real 2. (GCM)
(August 11, 2005 issue)
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