CEBU CITY — University of San Carlos completed a sweep of the semifinal round with an 86-81 win over University of San Jose-Recoletos on Sunday in the 15th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Cameroonian big man Shooster Olago scored 38 points and pulled down 20 rebounds as the Warriors set up a best-of-five finals series against University of the Visayas.
Charles Pepito again had a double-double, registering 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Nico Magat came off the bench to score 11 points.
The win was not easy, though, with the Jaguars determined to keep alive their slim finals hopes.
USJ-R rookie guard Jaybie Mantilla scored 14 in the third period, hitting three consecutive triples, to help the Jaguars pull even at 61.
The Jaguars got ahead, 75-72, after a free-throw by Miguel Gastador and an and-one by RJ Dinolan with 4:48 to go.
But Olago swished in two free-throws, Pepito converted a transition bucket and Olago threw down a two-handed slam to put the Warriors in front, 78-75.
USJ-R got 26 points and six rebounds from Villafranca and 23 points, eight rebounds and two steals from Mantilla. RJ Dinolan added 15 markers for the Jaguars.