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Philippines, 09 Feb 2026 |
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EIGHT-MAN USC WARRIORS STUN SWU COBRAS WHILE UV LANCERS PREVAIL OVER USJ-R JAGUARS IN START OF CESAFI FINAL FOUR By Michael Kenji Izumi PhilBoxing.com Thu, 01 Oct 2015 CEBU CITY -- The CESAFI Final four commenced last Tuesday with the eight-man USC Warriors scoring a stunning victory ovetr the SWU Cobras while the fancied UV Green Lancers prevailed over University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars to get a headstart in the single round-robin format for the chance to qualify in the Best-of-five CESAFI Finals. In a rematch of last year's finals USC Warriors played their best game so far this season as they outplayed the SWU Cobras with only eight men as Fil-Samoan rookie sensation Juju Bautista severely injured his right ankle that sidelined him for the rest of the season allowing the Warriors to take advantage of his absence to outscore SWU, 19-9 in the first quarter. But the Cobras held on behind the efforts of Mark Racho, MVP Mark Jayven Tallo and Jovanie Luz as they outscored the Warriors, to take a 29-20 lead at the half. At the start of the second half the Warriors put on an offensive clinic anchored by Ian Ortega, who had his best shooting game so far this season as he hit 6 of 9 three point attempts to finish with a season-high 19 points as the Warriors outscored the Cobras, 59-40 at the of the 3rd canto. The Cobras cut the lead to 14 midway through the 4th, but the Warriors had their answer in Charles Pepito. Things got out of hand for SWU in the final minutes of the 4th as Jan Auditor was ejected for punching Ortega in the midsection and the Warriors cruised to a convincing 85-66 win. Pepito was named the "Best Player of the Game" by the Viva Sports TV panelists Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo. He had 14 points and 19 big rebounds with 2 assists for USC while Racho led the Cobras with his season-high 22 points while Tallo added 15. In the first game, the UV Green Lancers outplayed the USJ-R Jaguars, despite some rough play. From the opening tip the Lancers showed they were serious in their quest for a 11th championship in 15 years. They started the 1st quarter with a 31-19 lead and although the Jaguars came closer in the 2nd quarter behind Miguel Gastador and Ralph Jude Dinolan who helped narrow the gap to two, 31-29 midway through second canto. But UV was not to be denied and came back to build a 50-42 lead at halftime before a near-melee ensued as UV's Import Steve Akomo and Nelvin Navarra got into a verbal altercation before cooler heads prevailed. In the 3rd quarter, the physicality of the game continued as USJ-R's Ricky Peromingan was rushed to hospital as he was suspected of having a fractured rib as he barged into UV's Leonard Santillan. UV still came up on top at the end of 3rd, 70-62. The Lancers' momentum continued in the 4th and they never gave up the lead as they cruised to an 87-77. victory. Santillan was named the Best Player of the Game" by Viva Sports TV panelists Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo with his best performance of the season as he scored 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Franz Arong and Akomo helped Santillan as they scored 18 and 12 points respectively for the Green Lancers while Dinolan, Gastador and Jaybie Mantilla led the Jaguars with their combined 52 points but their efforts went to naught. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Michael Kenji Izumi.  |
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