Written by Athena Quidlat/StoryLab
The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons secured back-to-back victories after defeating the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue (UCLM) Webmasters and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 men’s basketball tournament on September 30 and October 2, respectively.
The Fighting Maroons played an intense match against UCLM Webmasters, holding a 10-point lead at the start of the final quarter, 54-44. UP Cebu maintained its advantage to secure a 66-59 victory.
AJ Delos Reyes led the Fighting Maroons with 19 points in the game, while Kenneth Fuller and Raul Gilbuena added nine points each. Nino Wenraye Sarol and Aron-Dave Kress contributed eight points apiece.
This victory marked UP Cebu’s first win of the season.
In their next match, the Fighting Maroons carried the momentum into their game against the USPF Panthers, overpowering them, 72-57. The team had a slow start but gained control in the second quarter, taking a nine-point lead at halftime with 43-34.
By the fourth quarter, UP Cebu had extended its lead to 11 points, 55-44, before closing out the game with a 15-point advantage.
Andrew Padilla steered the Fighting Maroons with 16 points, while Kenneth Fuller finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. AJ Delos Reyes added 12 points, and Joshua Cabanlit contributed nine.
After battling hard at the start of the season and winning two consecutive games, UP Cebu fell to the UC Main Webmasters, 67-54, last October 4.
Despite the loss, the victories marked UP Cebu Fighting Maroons’ first two-game winning streak since joining CESAFI in 2022.