USC Warriors start Cesafi Season 26 with a stunner over UV Green Lancers

**USC Warriors Upset UV Green Lancers in Cesafi Season‑26 Opener**

*Cebu City, Philippines – August 30, 2026* – The University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors began their Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) Season 26 men’s basketball campaign with a decisive 81‑68 victory over the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Green Lancers entered the game as four‑time defending champions, but USC established control early, building a double‑digit lead in the first half and extending the margin to 13 points (53‑40) midway through the third quarter. The Warriors’ defense forced 20 turnovers from UV, while USC recorded 19 steals and five blocks. By the fourth quarter, USC led by as many as 16 points (66‑50) and maintained the advantage through the remainder of the game.

**Key performances**

– **Jhoernel Tangkay** (USC) posted a double‑double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, added nine steals and an assist, falling one assist short of a triple‑double in his final Cesafi season with the Warriors.
– **Real Aureo** (USC) contributed 15 points, three assists and three rebounds.
– **James Paolo Gica** (USC) scored 13 points.
– **Jose Marie Tumabang** (USC) added 12 points.

For UV, **AJ Sacayan** led with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists, while **Kent Ivo Salarda** recorded 10 points.

The game experienced a brief interruption in the fourth quarter when a rotational brownout caused the arena lights to go out. Play resumed after the outage, and USC continued its momentum to secure the win.

The result marks one of the most significant upsets on Cesafi’s opening day, signaling a strong start for USC’s campaign and challenging the dominance of the defending champions.

Article and image source: cebudailynews.inquirer.net