CEBU CITY — Defending champion University of San Carlos snapped a two-game slump in thrilling fashion, outlasting University of Cebu in overtime, 69-67, in the 16th Cesafi basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Rookie big man Conrad Catapusan had a chance to win the game for USC but split his free throws to just tie the match at 62. In overtime he hit two big baskets as the Warriors ended the first round of eliminations with an even 3-3 win-loss mark.
Catapusan started overtime with a turnaround jumper and after a free-throw by UC’s Fil Culango, added a one-handed floater with 1:33 to go for a 66-63 lead.
Oleodo followed up a miss and put it back in to raise USC’s lead to five with 57 ticks remaining.
Catapusan finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while the Warriors also got 15 points from Kevin Oleodo and 12 from Lucky Ecarma.
Ahead for most of the game, USC found itself trailing, 58-60, after an incredible and-one play by UC guard Justine Dacalos. With the shotclock winding down, the 5-foot-6 Dacalos looked to have been tripped but still managed to flip the ball up and into the basket. He made the bonus free-throw to put the Webmasters up two.
JR Puerto had 16 points and 17 rebounds for UC, which fell to 2-4.
The scores:
USC Warriors 69 — Oleodo 15, Ecarma 12, Catapusan 11, Laguyo 8, Tagapan 8, Langres 6, Tan 4, Divinagracia 4, Rabat 1, Tubiano 0.
UC Webmasters 67 — Puerto 16, Tagudin 12, Culango 9, Jabello 8, Dacalos 7, Delator 6, Mayol 3, Suelto 2, Codilla 2, Bautista 2, Nazareno 0, Villegas 0, Malabuyoc 0, Paghasian 0.
Quarterscores: 17-17; 38-32; 47-43; 62-62; 69-67.
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