CEBU CITY — University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) stood tougher in overtime to beat University of San Jose-Recoletos, 78-69, in the 2019 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Left-handed American wingman Sameen Swint scored 27 points including two huge three-pointers in overtime that helped the Panthers secure their third win in five games. He added 11 rebounds and two steals.
The Panthers trailed by as many as 10 before pulling ahead late in the fourth canto, 63-60, after two straight baskets from forward Alje Mendez.
An exchange of two free-throws by USJ-R’s Adama Camara and USPF’s Neon Chavez kept the Panthers ahead, 65-62, but Jaguars wingman Miguel Gastador made an improbable triple over two defenders from the right wing to tie the game up at 65-all with 2.7 seconds left.
The Jaguars even had a shot at winning the game after McSteven Ursal threw the inbound pass during the Panthers’ possession. However, USJ-R could not take advantage as Matthew Carin’s three-point try was way off the mark.
USPF then asserted itself in overtime, with Chavez completing a three-point play and Swint canning a triple to knock the wind out of USJ-R’s sails.
Mendez also submitted solid numbers with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Gastador tallied 21 points and eight rebounds for UPS-F, which fell to 1-4. Camara had eight points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.
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