TWO teams without losses take on each other today for solo leadership of the 2015 Mayor’s Cup Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Pre-Season Basketball Tournament at the Don Celestino Martinez Coliseum in Bogo City, tonight.
Early league-leader University of the Visayas Green Lancers, who tabbed two victories on the first weekend and the University of Cebu Webmasters, who won their opening game last Saturday will open up the hostilities at 6 p.m.
The main game will feature two winless teams—the much favoured University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, who lost its debut game last Sunday and the comebacking University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the main game at 7:30 p.m.
UV opened its campaign for the P80,000 champion’s prize with a 71-64 win over the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, followed by a 101-69 win over the Panthers, while UC scored a thrilling 106-99 victory over the Panthers.
USJ-R, meanwhile, is raring to make it to the winners’ column after suffering a 70-76 setback against USC last Sunday.
A win by UV will put them one foot into the finals, while a win by UC is expected to complicate the standings of the tournament as it would put the Lancers half a game behind the unpredictable Webmasters.
UV, however, is yet to play its full potentials as it is still playing without its ace players and Cameroonian import Steve Cedrick Akomo because of prior commitments.
The Lancers, however, are expected to play their full might next week as they play the dangerous Jaguars.
The top two finishers after the elimination round will be playing for the title.
Before the games of the Cesafi teams, high school teams from Bogo City will be facing each other in the Inter-High School Tournament.
The participating schools include St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo, Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges, Felipe Verallo Memorial Foundation, Northern Cebu Colleges, Libertad National High School, Jovencio Masong National High School and City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy.
Bogo City mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. hopes that by conducting a high school tournament alongside the collegiate tournament, the young players will be inspired to concentrate on getting better with their game as it could get them a possible college scholarship.