UC jrs. regain fire

CEBU, Philippines - They lost in their first two games, something that is very uncharacteristic for a solid team that made it to the juniors division finals for the past two seasons.

But it did not take long for the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters to summon back their old deadly form.

Spewing fire from the get-go, the Junior Webmasters went on to annihilate the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens, 77-62, for their first win in the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

John Bryl Cuyos sparkled with 21 points, Virlou Orquez scored 16 while Dave Peligrino and Miguelito Jusay had 17 points in between them for the UC bantams, who left the Wildkittens groping for form after coasting a 38-22 lead at halftime.

The Junior Webmasters were in complete control from there onwards, establishing as much as 24 points lead, 67-43, in the final five minutes on the way to apply brake on their two-game slide.

Kirk Suson finished with 17 points and Marion Abinuman had 13 but they went home empty-handed at the Wildkittens crashed to their fourth straight loss.

Earlier, John Galarse fired 17 points while Joshua Baruc and Andre Gabutero nailed 14 markers apiece as the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons escaped past the Don Bosco Greywolves, 62-60, for their second victory in three starts.

Meanwhile, the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors shoot for their fourth straight win as they take on the UC Webmasters at 4 p.m., right before the defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers try to make it three games in a row when they battle the CIT-U Wildcats at 5:30 p.m.

In the juniors play, four-time titleholder Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles (3-0) and the UV Baby Lancers (2-0) will clash for the solo lead at 2:30 p.m. (FREEMAN)