UC pulls off finals shocker

CEBU, Philippines – He's the smallest man on the floor, yet the biggest in terms of heart and fighting spirit.

Gelmart Umpad, who barely stands five feet tall, personified that character as the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters stunned the previously undefeated Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 73-63, to draw first blood in their best-of-three finals series for the juniors division crown of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Reliable as ever, Froilan Mangubat unloaded 23 points on top of seven rebounds, five assists and as many steals in an all-around hardcourt brilliance for the Junior Webmasters, but Umpad caught part of the spotlight after churning out 14 points, including seven straight in the crucial stretch that came like dagger that plunged into the hearts of the Magis Eagles.

When the Ateneans pulled within striking range, 61-65, after being down by as much as 10 points, 53-63, late in the final period, Umpad lived up to his 'small but terrible' billing by scoring on a breakaway layup off a lob pass at the inbound by John Bryl Cuyos with 1:15 left to play.

The diminutive, but big-hearted playmaker from Medellin north of Cebu further extinguished SHS-Ateneo's comeback hopes by hitting 4-of-6 from the foul line that practically sealed the deal for the Junior Webmasters with a 71-63 lead with only 14 ticks remaining in the gameclock.

After a couple of missed attempts by their rivals, Mangubat calmly sank a pair of freebies in the last seven seconds to settle the final tally. Overall, Mangubat and Umpad shot 5-of-6 from the stripe as they shut down Magis Eagles at the last 33 seconds of the contest.

Jayson Abejo chipped in 15 points for the Junior Webmasters, while Luigi Gabisan had 11 points before limping out of the court with leg cramps late in the final quarter.

The Junior Webmasters actually got off to a slow start resulting to an early 14-20 deficit, but launched a daring 19-7 counter-attack in the second canto to gain a seven-point headway at halftime, 33-27, something they never relinquished on the way to a breakthrough win over the Magis Eagles who have been seemingly invincible for the past three years.

Patrick Yu netted 13 points, while Eroll Pastor and Wayne Bersalona each nailed 11 markers for the Magis Eagles, who saw their 11-game winning streak come to a sudden red stop.

Playing without their top wingman Andrew Velasco who fractured his right hand during practice, the Magis Eagles were really hit hard as the offensive engines of their other star players in Jed Colonia and Travis Mantua also conked out. The usual deadly one-two combo was held off to only nine points apiece.

The Junior Webmasters now train their sights on the coveted crown they never tasted since 2008, but they must brace for one big war as the Magis Eagles will surely fight at all cost to get even in Game 2 this Thursday and extend the series into its full route. (FREEMAN)