THE semifinal cast for the 2025 Emil’s Fresh Chicken Fiesta Cup Inter-Secondary Basketball Invitational has been finally completed following a thrilling elimination round action at the Lipata-Linao Sports Complex in Minglanilla, Cebu, on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers punched their ticket to the next round by defeating the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 83-76, in a closely fought game.
The victory secured USPF the No. 1 spot in Bracket B with a perfect 3-0 record, while the loss eliminated the Baby Dragons, who ended the eight-day competition with a 1-2 record.
The Dragons’ early exit benefited the University of Cebu-Lapulapu/Mandaue (UCLM), which finished the elimination round with a 2-1 card and formally claimed the No. 2 spot in Bracket B after previously defeating CEC 91-86 on Saturday.
Marcus Lozano and Champ Brigoli led USPF with 15 points each, while Jack Cox and Junsen Magbato added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
For CEC, Louie Estorba scored 25 points, including five three-pointers. Justine Parilla added 17 points, while Kenneth Fuller and Sydney France Van Hoek contributed eight and nine points, respectively.
In the main game, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers solidified their hold of the No. 1 spot in Bracket A by demolishing the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats, 91-75.
However, both teams have already secured semifinal berths with UV (3-0) getting the top seed and CIT-U (2-1) taking the No. 2 spot.
Liyco Ventura spearheaded the Baby Lancers with 20 points, followed by Jacob Cortes with 12 and Jose Ejurango with 11. CIT-U was led by Geoffe Vhon Partosa (19 points), Russel Suarez (15), and Jero Daniel Rosellosa (13).
The crossover semifinals, pitting UV against UCLM and USPF versus CIT-U, will be held on Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. / JBM