SHS-Ateneo, UV jrs. cruise to 2-0 starts
Justin Jake Rosete of UV shoots over a Don Bosco defender during their CESAFI juniors basketball match yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum. UV won, 88-69. PAUL JUN E. ROSAROSO
CEBU, Philippines - Four-time champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles and the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers sprinted to their second straight win in as many starts to share the early lead in the juniors division of the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Magis Eagles shrugged off a tentative start on the way to shackle the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens, 78-55, while the Baby Lancers rode on a daring endgame assault to mangle the Don Bosco Greywolves, 88-69.
The Magis Eagles, seeking a record five-peat, found the Wildkittens a tough costumer to handle early on. Nevertheless, the Ateneans managed to post a 18-14 edge after the opening quarter, thanks to the hot hands of Benedict Yu who poured in nine of his 12 points in the first 10 minutes of play.
The Wildkittens were in the thick of the fight for the last time at 24-25 as Andrew Velasco, JB Yu and Patrick Yu bombed three consecutive 3-pointers in a 13-4 run that gave the Magis Eagles a 38-28 advantage at halftime.
Finding their rhythm on both ends of the court, the Magis Eagles battered the Wildkittens at will the rest of the way. They closed the third period with a 56-41 advantage, then put the game beyond reach, 76-50, with only two minutes left to play.
Patrick Yu topscored for the Magis Eagles with 17 points.
Earlier, Justin Jake Rosete scored 19 and Jhey Paraldo added 17 points for the Baby Lancers, who held on their ground against a tough opposition by the Bosconians from the onset to grind through a 42-39 edge at the bend.
It was cruise control for the Baby Lancers from there onwards. After stretching their lead to 65-57, they launched their fiercest wave of attack in the windup, 23-12, to dish out a 19-point romp of the Greywolves.
JB Damolo, Jayson Abejo and Jomari Ranuco connived for 45 points but their efforts went to waste as the Greywolves staggered to their first loss.
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