CIT-U Baby Wildcats and UV Baby Lancers to Clash in CESAFI 15-Under Championship
The Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats and the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers have successfully advanced to the championship round of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) 15-Under basketball tournament. Both teams earned their coveted spots in the finals after securing hard-fought victories in their respective semifinal matches held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the UV Gym in Cebu City.
Thrilling Semifinal Battles Set the Stage for Finals Showdown
In a nail-biting first semifinal game, the CIT-U Baby Wildcats edged out the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eaglets with a final score of 50-48. The contest remained intensely competitive from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times throughout the game, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Jay Clarence Obeso emerged as a key player for the Baby Wildcats, contributing 10 points to the team's effort, while Mark Ivan Heraldez added nine crucial points to help secure the narrow victory. On the opposing side, Sean Rafael Conopio delivered an outstanding performance for the Magis Eaglets, scoring a game-high 18 points despite his team's heartbreaking loss.
Defending Champions UV Baby Lancers Secure Their Spot
The second semifinal match featured another close encounter, as the defending champion UV Baby Lancers narrowly defeated the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers with a score of 43-42. Kean Gonzales led the charge for UV, scoring 10 points to propel his team into the finals and keep their title defense hopes alive.
With both semifinals decided, the stage is now set for an exciting best-of-three finals series between the CIT-U Baby Wildcats and the UV Baby Lancers. As of press time on Monday, Game 1 of the championship series was already underway, promising more thrilling basketball action for fans and supporters across Cebu.
