IT’S been more than a decade since the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars won their last championship in the secondary basketball competition of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).

Two more wins and the Jaguars will finally be able to end the long drought.

USJ-R became the first finalist in the 24th season of CESAFI after it plastered the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 63-56, in their semifinal duel on Thursday night, November 28, at the Cebu Coliseum.

As the No. 1 seed, USJ-R came into the match armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, but the Baby Jaguars made sure that there were no complications as they quickly dispatched the fourth-ranked Baby Webmasters to move closer to winning another crown since 2012.

The Julius Cadavis-coached Baby Jaguars will next face the winner in the other Final Four duel between the defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers.

Ranked No. 2, Ateneo enjoys a twice-to-beat bonus against UV in a duel that serves as a rematch of last season’s championship match.

In earning a seat in the best-of-three championship round, USJ-R was razor-sharp against UC as it had four players scoring in double figures. Clark Candia showed the way for the Baby Jaguars with 12 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one assist.

Jan Francis Petilos tallied a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks, J Lord Pepito came away with 11 points, eight boards, and two steals while Shaun Grava wound up with 11 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block.

The eliminated Baby Webmasters were led by Carlo Salgarino and Stephen Pagalan, who finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively.(CCM)

• Tags
• #University of San Jose Recoletos Baby Jaguars
• #Secondary Basketball Competition
• #Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.
• #CESAFI
• #University of Cebu Baby Webmasters
• #Basketball
• #Sports