The CDO-UV Lancers could wrap up the crown via sweep with another victory in Game 3 at 5 pm tomorrow still at the Cebu Coliseum.
The next game of the series, however, will be a different picture because CDO-UV and VFI/USJ-R will be playing without Rino Berame and Randy Pogoy, respectively.
Berame and Pogoy will serve an automatic one-game suspension after being ejected in Game 2 due to a heated altercation with 3:18 left in the third period and the Lancers leading by 12 points, 52-40.
Even without Berame, the Lancers managed to break the game wide, 66-44, but just as when the pro-UV crowd was expecting another blowout, the Jaguars proved them wrong by staging a major rally that put the Lancers’ in disarray.
From that juncture, the Lancers were outscored by the Jaguars, 34-17. Since Pogoy was gone, the Jaguars were so inspired with John Malinao manning the post and Armand Ponce, Lyndon Gudez and Luther Justiniani hitting well from the field.
The Jaguars were just unfortunate that they ran out of time when Jessmar Villahermosa darted in a triple to pull them within, 78-82, with only nine seconds left in the contest.
By staying close, Jaguars showed they were doing their homework and what adjustments are in store for them will be known in Game 3.
CDO-UV team owner Jerome Ong is expected to witness the game tomorrow when the Lancers hope to paint the town red in celebration of a 3-0 shutout sweep.
Morsie Akad topscored for the Lancers with 18 points, while Von Harry Lanete also waxed hot with 16 points. Bomber Sendrijas was also of big help to UV by exploding 12 of his 15 markers in the third period.
Berame scored only four for the Lancers, while Pogoy had a silent two points for the Jaguars.
Ponce led the Jaguars with 15 points, Malinao had 14 points followed by Gudez with 13 and Luther Justiniani with 12.
The Jaguars raced to 9-0 start, but the Lancers countered with an 11-0 run to grab the lead for good, 11-9. UV closed the first quarter with a 21-14 edge, limiting USJ-R to only five points since it unloaded nine-to-nothing blast.
The scores
CDO-UV (85) - Akad 18, Lanete 16, Sendrijas 15, Esperat 9, Luga 8, Berame 4, Omolon 4, Diputado 3, Villanil 3, Arda 2, Canoy 1
VFI-USJR (80) - Ponce 15, Malinao 14, Gudez 13, Justiniani 12, Villahermosa 8, Gabas 7, Hatague 3, Delfino 2, Pogoy 2 Halftime: 34-32