CEBU CITY – University of Southern Philippines Foundation had a rousing debut, routing Southwestern University, 79-54, in the Cesafi Partner’s Cup on Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
With Nigerian center Rich Managor back after missing nearly all of last season due to a torn ACL, the Panthers dominated from tip-off and led by as many as 26 points.
The loss was the Cobras’ second in as many games after bowing to University of Cebu last week.
The Panthers took a 36-22 halftime lead with a 13-5 run capped by a three-pointer by Roy Quiachon.
Organique California-USPF continued its onslaught in the third with a 10-3 blast fueled by transition buckets from Mhike Patalinghug that pushed its lead to 46-25.
SWU-Phinma showed some fight and trimmed the deficit to 39-49, but the Panthers got a boost from energetic forward RR Cauba who sank two tough baskets to raise their lead back to 57-41.
Three-pointers by Karl Langahin and Patalinghug early in the fourth put USPF up by 26 points, 73-47.
Cauba led the way for the Panthers with 15 points while Patalinghug added 14.
Nobody reached double-figures for SWU-Phinma with Bayhonan and Polican scoring nine apiece.