Padillo returns, helps USC Warriors log fifth victory in Cesafi basketball
By Jonas Panerio
Cebu Daily News First Posted 10:07:00 08/30/2010
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
1 p.m. – SHS-J 85 (4-2) vs. USC 80 (2-4) (jrs.)
2:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs. CEC (srs.)
4 p.m. – USPF vs. USJ-R (srs.)
5:30 p.m. – CIT vs. UC (srs.)
A force that already needs to be reckoned with just got a little bit more dangerous.
Giovanni Padillo returned to action and helped the University of San Carlos Warriors close out their elimination round with an 85-73 win over the Don Bosco Greywolves yesterday in the seniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
The undermanned Warriors welcomed the return of Padillo, who missed most of the season with a fractured hand. The athletic guard responded by scoring 15 points, six of which came in the third period where USC overhauled a 33-39 deficit and turned it into a 60-51 lead heading into the last canto.
USC improved to 5-2 (win-loss) good for third place behind the University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of Cebu (UC).
Don Bosco, which dropped to 1-5, waxed hot in the first half for a 39-33 lead at the bend.
But the Warriors responded with aplomb in the second half with Padillo and reserve center Robert Codilla combining for 13 points, most of which coming in an 11-2 run that gave them a 60-49 advantage.
The Warriors sealed thw win as they erected their biggest lead of the match at 16, 83-67, behind Mark Panerio and Sam Hermosa.
Joven Cortes led USC with 17 points while Hermosa scored 14 markers.
In high school play, the UV Baby Lancers returned to action after a lengthy hiatus and dominated the DBC Baby Greywolves, 91-74, to improve their record to 4-1.
Vincent Mendoza led UV with 22 points.
The UC Baby Webmasters also registered a victory as they eked past the hard-fighting Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens, 82-79, putting their record up at 5-2. Nico Nemenio stepped up to score 18 points while John Aranas added 15.