THE Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens jumpstarted the game with a 16-5 blast in the opening quarter to score a 67-62 win over the demoralized Cebu Eastern College Dragons in the high school division of the Cebu SchoolS Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) 2015 Season at the Cebu Coliseum last night.
It was the first game CEC played without its scoring leader James Mark Roa, who was found with tampered birth records.
Because of this, CEC’s 59-43 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation last Aug. 6 was also nullified.
Also, the player was slapped with a lifetime ban for cheating.
CEC, however, had another Roa, Glent Anfernee to turn to, but the energized Wildkittens were quick to the draw with an 11-point lead after the first 10 minutes.
Marion Abinuman scored eight points, while Jasper Berezo added four for CIT-U's hot start before Roa caught fire and scored 11 points in the second quarter to push CEC to within three, 24-27, at the halftime break.
Both teams traded baskets evenly in the third period and started the final quarter with CIT-U still enjoying a slim 48-45 lead.
The Wildkittens remained steady behind the leadership of Berezo to score 11 points to get CIT-U into ths winner's column.
Berezo scored the game-high 26 points on a 9-of-22 field goal shooting and 8-of-11 from the free throw line.
He also had four rebounds and five steals, while Abinuman added 15 points, 12 rebounds and five steals for CIT-U's first win in three games while Roa topped CEC with 25 points and James Daniel Tempra added 10 markers for the Dragons second defeat in three games.