Jaguars reach semis as No.4  seed

CEBU, Philippines — Jose Zaldy Dizon fired 22 points and passed away 11 assists as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars bested the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 74-69, to book the fourth and last semifinal ticket in the college division of the 2022 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament over the weekend at the Cebu Coliseum.

Actually, USJ-R and UC finished the double round elimination with identical 5-5 records.

The Webmasters, however, secured the No.3 spot courtesy of a higher tiebreak quotient and will take on the No.2 qualifier University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the Final Four next week.

As the fourth seed, the Jaguars will bear the much tougher task of going up against the top-ranked University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the semis.   

Both the Lancers and the Panthers enjoy twice-to-beat advantage against their respective rivals,

Meanwhile, Batang Gilas member Jared Bahay exploded for 28 points laced with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals as the defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles outlasted the UC Baby Webmasters, 85-78, to grab the solo second place in the juniors division with a 7-1 win-loss record.

The Baby Webmasters fell to 6-2, still good at third place.

On the other hand, Tryke Jerome Pesa scattered 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals as the USPF Baby Panthers mauled the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 72-49, to keep their semis hopes alive with an even 4-4 slate.