Jaguars try to bolster bid for number 2 spot in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars will try to jack up their bid for the No.2 spot when they take on the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jaguars stayed at second place in the college division standings with a 5-2 win-loss record after a repeat 74-69 performance over the skidding University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors last Sunday.

With that, they need to win only three of their last five games in the double round elimination to secure a twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinal round.

Against a tail-ender with only one victory to show in nine games, the Jaguars are expected to have little trouble, more so that they dumped the Wildcats by 37 points, 97-60, during their August 8 match.

In the juniors division, the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters gun for a crucial win but it would be a tall order for them as they battle the third-ranked Baby Jaguars in the 5:15 p.m. opener.

  With an even 4-4 record, the Junior Webmasters need to beat the 5-2 Baby Jaguars because that's the only surest thing for them to  advance into the round of four.

Should they lose against the USJ-R bantams, the Junior Webmasters should hope and pray that the USC Baby Warriors and the Southwestern University- Phinma (SWU) Baby Cobras, both sporting 3-5 cards, will falter in their final games to keep their semifinal chances alive. (FREEMAN)