Coach Yayoy:Bayugan experience to make UC a better team

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur — They may have missed their championship target but it was still mission accomplished for the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters insofar as their head coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba is concerned.

The Webmasters put up a gallant stand, albeit in a losing cause to the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 83-88, in the spine-chilling final of the Mayor Kim Lope A. Asis Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament on Friday night at the full-packed Lope Asia Memorial Gymnasium here.

But more than the P150,000 runner-up prize they pocketed, it was the wealth of experience they acquired from playing against tough Manila teams that mattered most UC.

“We may have lost in this match (vs UST) we could have won but the most important thing is that we are able to achieve our purpose of coming here, and that is to gain more experience we need in preparation for the upcoming CESAFI season,” said Alcoseba.

CESAFI stands for Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), Cebu’s premiere inter-school athletic league.

During their final showdown with the Tigers that thrilled the sea of Bayuganon fans to the bones, the Webmasters gamely overhauled an early 17-point deficit, 26-9.

So fierce their counter-attack was that they even surged to a six-point lead, 74-68, at the final 8:38 mark of the contest.

The Tigers retaliated with an 8-0 blitz to retake the upperhand, 76-74, but the Webmasters quickly regained control, 83-82, on a barreling drive by John Calvin Jabello with only 42 seconds remaining.

However, just four ticks later, Renzo Subido, who eventually bagged the MVP award, knocked in a clutch 3-pointer to put UST back on top again, 85-83.

With plenty of time left, the Webmasters had several chances to turn the tide in their favor but their 6-foot-8 Cameroonian import Frederick Elombi blew them away.

First when Elombi threw an ill-advised triple that was way off the mark with 19 seconds left.

To buy time, UC quickly fouled Lee, who split his charities for an 86-83 lead.

The Webmasters still had one last opportunity to send the game into overtime but Elombi committed another major blunder when he picked up an inbound pass by Daryl Dhane Menina that was intended for Jabello.

The ball hit Elombi’s leg, then bounced out of bounds sealing UC's fate.

UST's Nat Cosejo then hit two free throws with only 11 ticks left in the gameclock to settle the final tally.

“We need to have discipline. What Elombi did was not part of our play. It’s the first time I’ve seen him take that kind of shot,” said Alcoseba of Elombi’s attempt from beyond the arc. “I hope he will learn his lessons well and be a better player in the CESAFI.”