THE players and coaches from the sides of the Hotel Fortuna/University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters and the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers who were involved in a tussle were slapped with a penalty on Friday, June 21, 2019.
Cesafi commissioner Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy Jr. said three players and two coaches from UC and USP-F were meted with a one-game suspension, community service for three hours and a fine of P5,000 each.
The game between UC and USP-F in the high school division of 2019 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partners Cup last Thursday night at the University of San Carlos gym got heated up after players and some members of the coaching staff got at it.
UC’s player Eldebrando Sevillejo and coaching staff Gary Hortellano and USP-F’s forward Elnah Singson and assistant coach Christian Bacus were slapped with a fine for their actions in the scuffle, which happened with 20.2 seconds left in the game and with UC leading by double figures.
Sevillejo and Singson collided at midcourt which escalated to a scuffle involving the assistant coaches. Sevillejo and Singson were thrown out of the game along with Bacus and Hortellano.
USP-F’s guard Kyle Ochavo will also get the same penalty after acquiring one unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul with 2:34 to play in the fourth quarter. He was thrown out of the playing court before the scuffle happened.
The Junior Webmasters defeated the Baby Panthers, 75-60, in the fight-marred game to stay spotless after four games.
The Junior Webmasters had the lead from the get-go thanks to a fiery 13-0 run in the opening quarter. USP-F’s first score came from the free throw line with 3:10 to play in the opening period.
USP-F mounted a fightback in the second half and was able to pull within one, 47-48. But that was the closest USP-F could get as UC answered with a 10-2 run to pad the lead, 58-49.
UC’s lead was back to double-digits, 68-57, after Sevillejo scored a two-pointer midway in the fourth quarter minutes before the commotion.
Luther Leonard poured in 12 points, Dane Lapiz pitched in 11 and Earl Polinar chipped in 10 for UC.
The action shifts back to Cebu Coliseum on Saturday with four games scheduled. (RSC)