THE University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers defeated the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 69-67, to get their first win in Cesafi basketball season 16, on Sunday, August 28, at the New Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City.
The Panthers started strong in the first quarter, capitalizing on their speed against the Wildcats, closing the first quarter ahead by six points, 20-14.
The Panthers maintained their good performance from the first quarter led by Gilbert Sastrillas to seal the first half up by seven points, 37-30.
In the second half, the Wildcats showed good ball movement, resulting in easy lay-ups and jump shots.
Wildcats team captain Marlo Pono knocked down a three-pointer at the 4:10 of the third quarter to tie the ball game at 42.
Good defense and better ball movement were the key for the Wildcats to close the third quarter with the lead, 49-44.
Coach Albert Alocillo's Panthers applied coast to coast defense at the start of the fourth quarter to pressure the guards of the Wildcats.
With 9:20 remaining in the fourth quarter, UPSF's Mark Tenebroso converted an and-one play, to tie the ball game at 49.
It was a tight game in the fourth, as both teams were unable to pull away from each other.
CIT-U's Steven Bucao made a crucial three-pointer to grab the lead 64-62 with 1:24 remaining left in the ball game.
But the Panthers retaliated as Roy Quiachon made a lay-up off a steal to create another deadlock at 64 with 47 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats showed good defense by blocking a shot from the Panthers, but CIT-U's Wilkin Sanchez committed his fifth foul with 29.6 seconds remaining, sending John Paul Batac to the free throw line.
Batac made two free throws, Panthers with the lead, 66-64.
Pono tried for a three-pointer in the left corner, but was unable to make the shot.
The Wildcats committed a foul to stop the clock at 23.5, sending Lyndon Colina to the free throw line. Colina made one out of his two shots, Panthers still with the lead 67-64.
With 14.3 seconds remaining, Bucao made a dagger three-pointer off a pass from Pono to tie the game at 67.
The Panthers went quickly for the basket. However, Batac missed his lay-up, but Roy Quiachon was able to grab the offensive rebound to make the put back, giving back the lead to UPSF, 69-67.
The Wildcats pushed hard for a basket to tie the ball game, but Reclear Navarro was fouled in the act of shooting with 1.6 seconds remaining.
Unfortunately, Navarro missed the two free throws that could have given the Wildcats a chance to go to the overtime.
John Anthony Lucena was able to get the offensive rebound, but the Wildcats ran out of time to make a shot, bowing out to the Panthers, 69-67.
The Panthers got their first win of the season, while the Wildcats are still winless.
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