Green Lancers prepare for Lyceum in CCL tourney

Win or go home.

That will be the battle cry of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers as they prepare to compete with the country’s best college teams in the 2007 Collegiate Champions League (CCL).

UV takes on wild card entry Lyceum of the Philippines on Saturday. If the Green Lancers win, they will play the reigning UAAP champion De La Salle University.

The Green Lancers, the seven-time CESAFI college basketball champion, have competed in the tournament the last four years and have come home empty-handed each time.

Last year, UV got as far as the round of four, but ran smack into the Sam Ekwe-led San Beda Red Lions.

Coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug hopes that his team’s fortunes will be better this year. For one, the frontline is now taller and bigger with 6’11” Fil-Am giant Gregory Fuentes Slaughter.

In addition, there’s Ariel Mepaña (who has successfully returned from injury), Rino Berame, Eduardo Arda, Bonifer Sendrijas, Anthony Manigque, Lucky Pitogo and rookie Edrian Lao.

Boosting the lineup is Michael Luga and guards Von Harry Lanete, Chris Victor Diputado and Ritchum Dennison.

As of today, only 12 of the initial 16 teams are still playing. Two of those who went home were provincial teams that were blown out of the court by their big city rivals.

The Sacred Heart College Stallions of Tacloban (Group C), lost by 57 points to the reigning NCAA back-to-back champion San Beda Red Lions, 105-48.

West Negros College (WNC) Mustangs from Bacolod lost by 22 points to NCAA third placer Jose Rizal University (JRU) Bombers, 83-61.

The other losers were Manuel Luis Quezon University (MLQU) of Quiapo and the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) Cardinals. The Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, who got a wild card entry like the Lyceum, ousted MLQU, 91-80, while the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers edged the Cardinals, 91-90.

The champion team will go home with P500,000 in form of funding/scholarship aside from the bragging rights of being the best collegiate team in the country. The runner-up, third placer and fourth placer will receive P200,000, P100,000 and P50,000, respectively.

The tournament will also award outstanding individual and team performance such as the MVP, Members of the Mythical teams (Team A and Team B), Best Defensive Team, Coach of the Series and Best Performing Referee. (GGM)