EVERY call from the referee was closely followed by grunts and complaints by the coaches from both sides of the court.

They knew a lot was at stake—a slot to the prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

And yesterday, in the PCCL Cebu Zonals, visiting team San Sebastian College (SSC)-Recoletos Baycats of Cavite got themselves a good start when they outclassed local team University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 86-77, at the Cebu Coliseum.

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SSC, the back-to-back champions of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu), banked on Naascu MVP Jun Gracilla, who scored a game-high 21 markers to lead the team.

It was a tight battle between the sister schools as they took turns taking the driver’s seat although not one was able to get ahead by more than six points.

USJ-R, the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) fourth placer, was looking strong going into the penultimate period as they took control of the quarter behind the three-pointers of Edmar Pateño and Marvin Duran.

However, they were silenced when SSC dropped a 10-0 bomb and the visitors surged ahead, 64-58.

SSC’s rampage was arrested by Edwin Bibera’s triple as USJ-R managed to slice the lead to just two, 66-64, going into the final frame.

Grasilla stepped up and opened the fourth period with five straight points to widen the gap but USJ-R’s Jaymar DelaPeña led an attack that saw USJ-R taking the lead, 74-73.

This was, however, the last time USJ-R tasted the lead.

SSC’s kept its composure intact and stole the ball twice for a 79-74 lead.

USJ-R’s Jun Lapiz did not lose hope and fired a triple that sliced the lead to two again, 79-77, with less than two minutes left but it proved to be their last hurrah.