CEBU CITY -- The University of San Carlos Warriors shattered a 57 year old drought to score a come from behind victory in the fifth and deciding game to capture their first CESAFI Basketball Championship before a huge crowd at the Cebu Coliseum on Tuesday.
The Warriors came out flat during the first three quarters before coming up with a very strong finish in the final 10 minutes of the game to score a come-from-behind 64-53 victory over the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.
The last victory of the Warriors in a collegiate championshipin Cebu was in 1958 which USC when USC was a member of the defunct Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA).
The Warriors started slow even as the Green Lancers came out red hot offensively to lead 17-6 at the end of the 1st quarter.
In the 2nd period, USC finally got their bearings and went on an offensive burst in the last 2 minutes of the quarter to cut the Green Lancers' lead to five, 30-25 at halftime.
Both team exchanged baskets in the third quarter but the Green Lancers held the upperhand with a 46-40 lead going into the pivotal fourth quarter.
But during the first three minutes of the final period, USC's Cameroonian Import Shooster Olago and Kiefer Lim teamed up as the Warriors used a searing 12-0 run, including a fastbreak slam dunk off Olago's steal with USC grabbing the lead, 52-46 midway through the quarter.
The Lancers tried to fight back in the closing minutes but their offense could only muster 7 points during the final 6-minute stretch of the game with veteran Nico Magat breaking the Lancers' hearts by hitting his only three pointer from the right baseline with under 2 minutes remaining in the game, thus paving the way for the championship.
A jubilant coach Britt Reroma in a post-game interview said "I would like to thank all of the USC supporters, to the USC community, and to the Lord for giving us the win. I feel so blessed that I end the championship drought with the team. I felt I'm on cloud nine already after the win.."
Shooster Olago was deservedly named ?Best Player of the Game? by the Viva Spports TV panel of Rico Navarro and Sandi Grumo for his dominating performance and a double-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds along with 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
Olago told Viva Sports ?"In the first half, we didn't play the Warriors style of basketball. And Coach Britt (Reroma) had motivated me to be more assertive as the game goes on. I am just happy that I gave the team a win for the school and for the supporters who never stop supporting USC.."
Leonard Santillan was the only double-digit scorer for UV with 16 points and 3 rebounds, while "The hitman" Jun Manzo was limited to only 4 points and was ejected at 1:54 remaining in the game after he was guilty of intentionally shoving Olago. and ejected from the game.
Aside from Olago being the best player, he was also named as one of the mythical five members during the awarding ceremonies, along with Santillan, SWU's Mark Jayven Tallo, USJ-R's Ralph Dinolan and USC's Charles Pepito. He was also named as the season MVP, the first import who achieved the feat in CESAFI history.
BOX SCORES:
USC (64) -- Olago 26, Pepito 8, Tagapan 6, Rabat 6, Ortega 6, McAloney 4, Laguyo 3, Magat 3, Lim 2, Maconocido 0.
UV (53) -- Santillan 16, Arong 7, Akomo 7, Caba?ero 6, Codilla 4, Manzo 4, Suerte 4, Aguirre 4, Segumpan 1, Napao 0.
Quarter Scores: 6-17; 25-30; 40-46; 64-53.
Photo: USC Warriors along with Coach Britt Reroma celebrating their first championship in 57 years. Photo by: Japhet Lim/Contributed Photo.
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