USC rallies to stun UV for CESAFI title

Ronex Tolin/CESAFI (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

CEBU--USC bucked a slow start and trampled multi-titled UV, 64-53, in the fifth and final game of the CESAFI men's basketball finals at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday night.

The Green Lancers, who have been the CESAFI champions for 11 years, imposed their will on the Warriors early on, limiting the latter to only six points in the first quarter while opening an 11-point cushion.

But the Warriors slowly crawled back to the game, and a fourth quarter explosion earned them the win and their first CESAFI title by winning the best-of-five series, 3-2.

Shooster Olago carried the fight for USC, who won the championship in front of a sold-out crowd which included USC legend Mon Fernandez, with 26 points, 19 rebounds, two assists, one block, and two steals.

Leonard Santillan led UV with 16 markers, but the former RP Youth Team member only scored seven points after the first quarter.

Box Scores:

USC 64--Olago 26, Pepito 8, Tagapan 6, Rabat 6, Ortega 6, McAloney 4, Laguyo 3, Magat 3, Lim 2, Maconocido 0

UV 53--Santillan 16, Arong 7, Akomo 7, Cabañero 6, Codilla 4, Manzo 4, Suerte 4, Aguirre 4, Segumpan 1, Napao 0

Quarterscores: 6-17; 25-30; 40-46; 64-53