UC ends elims on high note

USC Gym

4 p.m. – UP vs. SWU

5:30 p.m. – UV vs. USPF

The Gaisano Capital-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters put a stamp on their class in their final game of the elimination round as they beat the San Marino Corned Tuna-Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 88-81, in the 5th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partners Cup late Friday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win gave the Webmasters some needed momentum heading to the semifinal round, which kicks off in grand fashion today at the University of San Carlos (USC) gym.

It features the debut of guest team University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons from the UAAP.

Gaisano ended the double round-robin eliminations with a 10-2 (win-loss) record while San Marino wound up with an even 6-6 mark.

The victory by the Webmasters did not come on a silver platter though as they repeatedly had to fight back several comeback attempts by the resilient Cobras.

Junemar Fajardo proved to be too dominant a force in the shaded lane, scoring 12 of his 29 points in the final frame to tow his squad to the win. Roger Caytuna added 16 for the Webmasters while Eleazar Armecin paced the losing squad with 17 markers.

The semifinal round will be a single round-robin affair between the five teams. The top two squads at the end of the round will compete in a best-of-fives series for the title. Teams ranked three and four will face off in a best-of-three series for third place.

The Maroons will be led by Fil-Am sniper Mike Silungan along with veterans Mike Gamboa and Alvin Padilla. The team is coached by Ricky Dandan.