Rose Aquarius-USPF bags third straight Partners Cup win

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

5:30 p.m. – Rose Aquarius vs. Prime Asia

7 p.m. – Gaisano Capital vs. Ave Maria

THE ROSE AQUARIUS-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers are now turning heads as they captured their third straight win after beating the Ave Maria Sanctuary and Park-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 68-67, in the 5th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partners Cup last Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Long tabbed to be the league’s doormat after several miserable performances in the Cesafi wars in past years, the Panthers are now finding their way back up the ladder and scratched off the Jaguars on their list of victims with a scintillating endgame finish.

James Feraren paced the Panthers with 12 points while Fritz Dajalos ended up with 11.

Ave Maria suffered yet another hearbreaking defeat after losing to the San Marino Corned Tuna-Southwestern University (SWU) the last time out.

The Jaguars led for most of the game and appeared to have the win in the bag as they led by four, 67-63, with under a minute left.

However, the Panthers kept their aggressiveness and it paid dividends as it eventually put their record now at 4-6 (win-loss), the same as their victims.

Rose Aquarius gets a shot at a fourth straight win today when they face off against the Prime Asia-University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio