UC Upsets Ateneo de Cebu as SWU Beats Defending Champ USC in Cesafi Caging

Gelmar Umpad rallied the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters to a dominating win over the top finisher Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles, 72-68, at the start of the high school semifinal round of the 2016 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum on Saturday.

In the college semifinal, Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras rallied from 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the defending champions University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 68-65, to stay unbeaten in 13 games this season.

In the middle of them all was two-time MVP Mark Jayven Tallo, who scored 12 of his game-high 24 points to spark a 22-0 run that erased USC’s 62-43 lead early in the final quarter.

USC’s hard work in the first 31 minutes went to naught as they collapsed when it mattered most.

Aside from Tallo, Jovannie Luz contributed 14 points and Ian Ortega finished with 12 points for SWU.

SWU will play the winner of the UV Green Lancers vs. USJ-R Jaguars game, which was being played as of press time Saturday night.

Meanwhile, in the juniors division, Umpad scored a career high 30 points, highlighted by a 5-of-6 shooting at the three-point area, along with three rebounds, five assists, two steals and a shot block, that helped the Baby Webmasters survive a thrilling match.

After Andrew Velasco scored the first basket of the game for SHS-AdC, UC countered with a 15-6 blitz that saw the Baby Webmasters controlling the pace of the match.

Coach Rommel Rasmo was forced to insert Jed Colonia early into the game to stop the bleeding, but UC was prepared for that with 4’11” Umpad nailing his second and third triples while Jumike Casera, Luigi Gabisan and John Bryl Cuyos sinking one triple each as the Baby Webmasters hung on to a 35-29 lead at the halftime break.

Colonia then combined efforts with Christian Manaytay, Errol Pastor, Travis Mantua and Alex Visser to push the Magis Eagles within 48-50 at the end of the third period.

During SHS-AdC’s third quarter run, the Magis Eagles managed to regain the lead 39-38 at the 5:52 mark, but that was only for a fleeting moment as UC recovered the momentum and never let go of the lead until the final buzzer. (PNA) SCS/EB/MP/SSC