CEBU CITY – Kevin Villafranca scored 29 points and two other rookies also scored in double figures, as University of San Jose-Recoletos kept its semifinal hopes alive with a 91-83 win over University of Cebu, 91-83, on Sunday in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
With team captain James Regalado and Congolese import Quintin Nzuzi out with injuries, Villafranca stepped up to help the Jaguars score just their second victory in six games and tie Cebu Institute of Technology-University in fourth place.
Fellow freshmen Iron Suano and Jim Custan had 14 and 13 points, respectively, for USJR.
The bottom two in the six-team tournament will be eliminated after two rounds.
Jan Auditor scored 28, while rookie Justin Dacalos added 25 for UC, which could not replicate the 100-96 win over the Jaguars in the first round.
In juniors action, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu kept its record unbeaten with an 88-45 rout of University of Cebu, while USJ-R whipped Don Bosco Greywolves, 106-44.
The scores:
Seniors
USJ-R (91) - Villafranca 29, Suano 14, Custan 13, Catipay 9, Galvez 8, Labares 6, Senining 5, Navarra 5, Dinolan 2, Lajato 0, Bayhonan 0.
UC (83) - Auditor 28, Dacalos 25, Puerto 15, Misa 4, Sigasig 4, Suelto 3, Roche 2, Nemil 2, Codilla 0, Tabaquero 0, Villarta 0, Albrecht 0, Butohan 0.
Quarterscores: 26-8; 46-38; 68-60; 91-83.
Juniors
USJ-R (104) - Rubas 23, Lapinid 16, Divinagracia 15, Guro 14, Mutya 11, King 7, Bascon 6, Belano 5, Gonato 4, Manalo 3, Murio 2, Cabatingan 0, Culpable 0.
DBTC (44) - Asignar 19, De La Torre 7, Agustinez 5, Saludes 5, Gabisay 4, Duque 2, Cabas 2, Adlawan 0, Macam 0, Falcone 0, Larumbe 0, Cañoneo 0, Mabitad 0. Villarias 0.
Quarterscores: 15-10; 46-22; 74-34; 104-44.
SHS-AdC (88) - Longa 13, Sinclair 13, Mantua 8, Araw-Araw 8, Gaviola 8, Johnson 6, Jaboneta 6, Huang 5, Co 4, Chua 4, Velasco 4, Mayol 3, Nacua 2, Visser 2, Calumpang 2.
UC (45) - Menina 19, Isla 7, Dungog 7, Quiamco 7, Gabisan 2, Ubas 2, Hemida 1, Abejo 0, Molina 0, Ramas 0, Dela Rama 0, Daligdig 0, Carpio 0, Soco 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13; 41-25; 70-35; 88-45.
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