GIOVANNI Padillo again played the hero for the San Marino Corned Tuna- University of San Carlos Warriors for a thrilling 79-77 win over the Bibo Hotdog-Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats in the collegiate game of the 2010 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. Partners Cup basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
Tied at 77 with only seven seconds left, Padillo, who was scoreless after tallying six in the third period, drove to the hoops to sink the winning basket to give USC its second win in the three games.
CIT had a hot start with playing coach and with ex-pro Gilbert Demape leading the charge; the Wildcats had a 23-12 lead in the opening quarter.
However, CIT forgot to play good defense and allowed Eddie Bakker to score all of his 11 points in the second quarter as USC outscored CIT in the second, 22-14.
Robert Genes Codilla also had 6 in the second as USC cut the lead to 37-34.
The Wildcats fell further as USC rallied for a 30-15 scoring binge in the third quarter.
The Warriors are now 2-1, while CIT lost for the second straight time.
Sam Jordan Hermosa scored a game-high 18 points for the Warriors, while Christian Taboada and Jaca finished with 11 points each for CIT.
Meanwhile, Alvin Labo-Labo scored 18 points in the Enervon C-University of Cebu’s 79-75 win over the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars.
The San Marino-USC Baby Warriors also eked out a 62-61 win over the Bibo Hotdog-CIT Wildkittens in the opening match.