Panthers survive Cheetahs to go 3-0 in CESAFI hoop | The Freeman

CEBU, Philippines — The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers banked on a scintillating endgame show to turn back the upset-seeking Benedicto College Cheetahs, 74-65, and stay unbeaten in the 23rd Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Panthers trailed by 10 points, 39-49, midway in the third quarter but they gamely chiseled the deficit away to pull within just two points, 61-63, behind the leadership of explosive rookie Peter John Peteros late in the game.

They then detonated a devastating 13-0 bomb to blow away the Cheetahs. Christian Jay Alilin and Neon Chavez fired back-to-back cruise missiles from beyond the arc in that searing run that virtually sealed USPF’s with an insurmountable 74-63 lead in the dying seconds.

Peteros unloaded 12 of his 20 points in the second half while Chavez and Alilin connived for 28 markers as the Panthers took the solo second spot in the college division standings with perfect 3-0 record.

Serge Gabines cashed in 17 points, while Kenneth Babalcon finished with 10 points but to no avail at the Cheetahs suffered their second straight loss after hurdling their league debut against the University of the Philippines (UP)-Cebu Fighting Maroons.

In the juniors play, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Blue Dragons bounced back quickly from their previous loss and vented their ire on last year’s runner-up City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA) Trailblazers in decisive fashion, 80-61.

Caelan Craig Mack sparkled with 23 points, Lybron James Lamo banged in 21 markers, while Andrey Roa added 15 points as the CEC Dragons jumped to solo fourth spot with a 3-1 win-loss slate.

Down by four at the bend, 31-35, the Dragons staged a scorching 23-14 rally in the third period to gain a five-point headway, 54-49, going into the final stanza.

The Easternians got even fiercer in the windup, pounding the Trailblazers, 26-12, to come up with a 19-point blowout. Overall, CEC hammered CBSAA in the seco.25nd half, 49-26.