Warriors, Panthers collide anew

CEBU, Philippines — The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers have different things in mind as they clash anew in the 19th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum today.

In their 6:45 p.m. encounter, the Warriors hope to reaffirm their mastery over the Panthers but they must brace for another dogfight.

This as the Warriors needed an extra five-minute period before fending off the Panthers, 80-75, during their first round meeting last September 1.

Also, the Warriors must be extra wary as the Panthers are itching to end back-to-back defeats they suffered at the hands of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars and the three-time defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers just three days apart from each other.

At the moment, the Warriors stand at solo third place in the seniors division standings with a 4-3 win-loss record while the Panthers are two notches lower with a 3-5 slate.

Meanwhile, the University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Campus will take on the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats in a battle of juniors division cellar-dwellers at 5:15 pm. 

The Baby Wildcats dropped five straight games since winning their season-opening assignment, while UCLM is still listless in four starts.