The Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens locked up the fourth seed heading into the quarterfinal round as they routed the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 94-58, in the juniors division of the Cesafi basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win by CIT set up a date with the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, who at 3-4 (win-loss), are seeded fifth.

The Wildkittens, though, will have an ace up their sleeve in their quarterfinal match as they own a twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of their higher finish in the elimination round.

The Wildkittens banked on the prolific shooting of rising star Mark Jayven Tallo, who scored 12 of his 17 points in a telling second period blast that saw CIT outscore the Greywolves 29-11, turning a slim two point advantage into an insurmountable 20-point bulge at halftime.

Tallo, a rookie in the junior ranks and the son of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Mark Tallo, dazzled with his proficiency from the perimeter and his slashing forays to the basket.

CIT did not ease off the gas pedal in the ensuing period as it continued its dominance with a 25-14 run that saw the lead balloon to as many as 40 points.

Aside from Tallo, three other players scored in double figures with Noel Onting and Junard Caparida scoring 11 points apiece, and John Getalla adding 10.

Don Bosco, on the other hand, was led by the 16 points of Marion Bollozos. Big man Danilo Belanguel was held to just five points.

The Greywolves finished the preliminary round with a 1-6 record and will face the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters in the quarters.

BOX SCORES:

CIT (94) Tallo 17, Caparida 11, Onting 11, Getalla 10, Brigoli 8, Tallo 6, Nalos 6, Canete 5, Augusto 5, Taghoy 4, Almario 3, Simborio 3, Cabanero 3, Dimitiman 2.

DBTC (58) Bollozos 16, Ruiz 9, Velasco 8, Ruiz 5, Belanguel 5, Ruiz 5, Balorio 4, Solis 2.