Seven-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras were made to work extra hard before getting past their respective foes and clinch their first wins in the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season, which shifted action yesterday at the USC gym.
The Cobras found a new hero in Ard Django as they downed opening day winner and last year’s finalist University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 54-50, in a low-scoring game, while the UV Lancers bounced back from a previous loss and vented their ire on the gritty University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 77-74.
Although Django made an impact, it was Alfred Belande who stepped up bigtime for the Cobras by scoring nine points in a daring fourth-quarter assault that vaulted them to a 48-41 lead with still 5:37 left in the game. He finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists.
The Warriors were led by Joven Cid Cortes with 15 points followed by veteran Enrico Llanto with 13 markers. The missing link was Fil-Australian John Emil Rowe, who got nil after an impressive victory during their season-opening conquest of the mightly Lancers.
USC’s defeat left the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars alone on top of the standings with a clean 2-0 slate.
Earlier, Ritchum Dennison knocked in a back-breaking triple that gave the Lancers a 76-73 breather with 15.2 seconds left in the game. He then split his charities with 7.7 ticks before the final buzzer to settle the final tally.
Dennison, who did not play during their 76-80 setback to the Warriors, topscored for the Lancers with 18 points. His explosion was right on time as top gunner Gregory Slaughter was held to just 12 points.
Staring a four-point deficit, 69-73, at the final 1:48 mark, the Lancers averted what could have been another humiliating debacle as Von Harry Lanete scored two frebbies and Edrian Lao nailed an undergoal stab to knot the count at 73-all with 56 seconds to go.
Dennison then came up with a booming triple to bail the Lancers out of danger.
Renato Gulane had 18 points for the Panthers, who were without ace hitman Moncrief Rogado with a sprained right ankle. Rookie Jeffrey Laurente had an impressive CESAFI debut with 14 points.