The Benedicto College Cheetahs delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, securing an impressive 82-58 victory against the University of San Carlos Warriors in the ongoing Cesafi men's basketball tournament at Cebu Coliseum.
Dominant Performance from Start to Finish
From the opening quarter, the Cheetahs established their dominance, outscoring the Warriors 22-13 and never relinquishing control throughout the matchup. The team's superiority was evident across multiple statistical categories, including rebounds where they outmuscled USC 43-33 and field goals where they converted 33 attempts compared to USC's 22.
The Cheetahs maintained consistent pressure, extending their lead to 70-50 by the middle of the fourth quarter, effectively sealing the game's outcome well before the final buzzer.
Serge Gabines Shines as Best Player
Leading the Cheetahs' charge was big man Serge Gabines, who delivered an outstanding individual performance worthy of Best Player of the Game honors. Gabines dominated the court with 24 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, providing the offensive firepower that proved too much for the Warriors to handle.
Supporting Gabines' efforts, Den Rick Orgong contributed significantly with 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and one block. The scoring distribution remained balanced as Andrian Jay Tonacao and Junil Bulan combined for 15 points, demonstrating the Cheetahs' depth and collective strength.
Standings Implications and Upcoming Games
This victory marks the Cheetahs' seventh win in nine outings, positioning coach BJ Murillo's squad in second place in the league standings. They trail only the University of Cebu Webmasters, who currently hold an 8-1 record.
Interestingly, the defending champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers also maintain a 7-2 record, but Benedicto College claims the No. 2 spot by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker rule. The Cheetahs previously defeated UV 76-65 in their first-round encounter last October 26.
For the Warriors, the loss resulted in a drop from fourth to fifth place in the standings. James Paolo Gica led USC's effort with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the losing cause.
Looking ahead, Benedicto College will face the struggling University of the Philippines-Cebu Fighting Maroons (1-8) this Saturday, November 22. Meanwhile, USC will attempt to bounce back on Sunday, November 23, against the CIT-U Wildcats (2-5).
High School Division Action
In concurrent Cesafi high school action, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles continued their dominant form with a convincing 79-59 victory over the Don Bosco Technical College Greywolves.
The defending high school champions secured their fourth consecutive win, improving their record to 5-1 and claiming second place in the team standings. The Greywolves, meanwhile, fell to a disappointing 1-6 record.
Despite missing key scorer Lian Kent Basa, the Magis Eagles received stellar performances from multiple players. Henry Kristoffer Suico led the team with 15 points, five assists, two steals, and two rebounds, while Jacob Lacson dominated inside with a double-double performance of 14 points and 11 rebounds, plus two blocks.
Additional scoring came from Gabriel Gonzales and Benj Anthony Chua, who combined for 17 points. For DBTC, Lord Adriel Sasuman topscored with 11 points, with Daniel Cerilles Jr., Jasheed Ybarra, and Paul Abangan each contributing 10 points.
