UC, CEC post crucial wins in Cesafi hoopwars

Sports

THE University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons bolstered their respective playoff bids after they hacked out separate wins in the basketball tournament of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Season 25 on Thursday, Nov. 27, at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Webmasters surged atop the college division standings by nipping the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 69-56, while the Dragons earned a piece of the lead in the high school competition after demolishing the Benedicto College (BC) Baby Cheetahs, 69-34.

Ricofer Sordilla finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Webmasters leapfrogged the University of the Visayas Green Lancers to move up to No. 1 spot with their 10th win in 12 games.

The Green Lancers hold a 9-2 (win-loss), good for second place but are just slightly ahead of the 8-2 Cheetahs.

The loss was a crucial one for the Warriors as it yanked them out of the Top 4 after they fell to 6-6. The University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars’ benefited from the Warriors’ loss as they moved up to fourth spot with a 6-4 slate.

Tournament format states that only the top four teams will advance to the semifinal round with the top two seeds enjoying twice-to-beat advantages.

On the other hand, the Dragons tied the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue at the No. 1 spot with identical 7-2 records. The two teams are closely followed by the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, who are both 6-2.

The Baby Cheetahs stayed at the bottom part of the rankings with their sixth loss in nine outings.

Llouie Jay Estorba led CEC with 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block while Kenneth Fuller was equally brilliant with 10 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and five steals.(CCM)