CIT-U posts narrow win over USPF, keeps flickering CESAFI playoff hopes alive

Sports

THE road to the quarterfinal round is getting narrow for the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), but the Wildkittens are not giving up just yet, pulling off a hard-earned 53-50 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers on Wednesday, November 13, at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win, their sixth in 10 games, kept alive the Wildkittens' slim hopes of making it to the Final Four in the high school division of the 24th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Basketball Tournament.

With only one game left in its assignment, CIT-U is two spots out of the Top Four, trailing University of San Jose-Recoletos (8-1), Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (7-1), University of the Visayas (7-2), University of Cebu (7-2), and Cebu Eastern College (6-3).

Only the top four teams after the elimination round will advance to the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, the loss shoved the Baby Panthers out of playoff contention as they dropped to 4-5.

CIT-U overhauled a 15-point deficit behind Daniel Mapula, who snatched "Best Player of the Game" award with a production of six points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three assists.

Cyrus Abadies was the Wildkittens' top scorer with 10 points. Kent Noguerra and Kieff Rusell Suarez each added nine points for CIT-U.

Fritz Gonzales topped the Baby Panthers with 11 points, eight rebounds, and two steals.(CCM)