THE Lion-Tiger Aerosol backed-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers maximized its advantage against Bibbo Hotdog-Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildcats in the third period for a 77-63 win, to finish No.5 in 2010 Cesafi/Partner’s Cup Collegiate Basketball action at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
San Marino Corned Tuna/University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, on the other hand, overhauled a 10-point deficit to keep the second place following a 69-62 win against the Prime Asia/Don Bosco Technological College (DBTC) Greywolves in the other collegiate match.
USPF had a 10-point lead in the waning minutes of the first quarter, but saw it eaten up slowly by the aggressiveness of the Wildcats, 31-35, with only a minute left in the first half.
Nightmare
However, CIT could only field four players in the third quarter and it proved to be its worst nightmare since their reinforcements failed to show up for the game.
USPF took advantage of this situation and quickly dropped a 13-3 run to install a double-digit lead for good.
Elvis Labares led USPF scorers with 12 markers, while Chester Curso scored 13 for CIT.
The Panthers (2-4) will need two wins against the Enervon C/University of Cebu Webmasters (3-3) in order to advance when the quarterfinals begins on March 6.
Meanwhile, Sam Jordan Hermosa and Michael Cantonao scored 10 points each to rally USC to a 25-8 blitz after being downed, 44-54, at the start of the final quarter.
Cantonao scored the game-high 17 points, while Hermosa added 16 as Noelle Vincent Castro topped DBTC with 11.
USC (5-1) will play against the Wildcats (1-5), while No.3 team PTT Fuel/University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers (4-2) will play the Greywolves in the quarterfinals. Top seed Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars (5-1) grabbed the automatic semifinal slot.
High school
In the lone high school match, the Bibbo Hotdog/CIT Wildkittens defeated the Aerosol/USPF Baby Panthers 86-67 to stay No.2 going into the quarterfinal games.
Joseph Aero Nalos scored 19 points, Mark Jayver Tallo added 15 and Clyvin Lima-Lima scored 12 for CIT while Rommel Diapera topscored for USPF with 17 markers.
CIT (4-2) will play against the winless DBTC Baby Greywolves (0-6), No.3 UV Baby Lancers (4-2) play the Baby Panthers (1-5), No.4 seed USJ-R Baby Jaguars (3-3) againts the USC Baby Warriors (3-3) while top seed UC Baby Webmasters (6-0) took the automatic slot to the semifinal round.
The higher seed teams will a twice incentive in the quar-terfinal round.