THE University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars finally put an end to their five-game skid as they took down the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 77-61 in the 2019 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum on Saturday, October 5, 2019.

The game courted controversy after USJ-R head coach Leode Garcia argued that USPF’s American wingman Sameen Swint should not be allowed to play as he did not have his own uniform on. Swint, who said he had lost his uniform, was wearing his teammate’s uniform with his family name number taped on.

USPF head coach Brian Jereza eventually pulled Swint from the game while Garcia officially put the game under protest.

The Jaguars took full advantage of Swint’s absence in the third period, where they uncorked a massive 17-2 run sparked by John Robles, Miguel Gastador, Renz Solomon and Adama Camara that gave USJ-R a 54-35 lead.

USPF tried to come back but USJ-R’s lead proved insurmountable to give the Jaguars its second win in seven matches.

Solomon and Gastador had 17 points each, the former adding four assists and four steals, and the latter tallying 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

The Panthers dropped to 3-4, in spite getting 16 points from Karl Langahin. (SunStar Cebu)