It's UV vs. USJ-R anew

CEBU – Seven-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers earned an eighth straight trip to the championship round in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament.

This time the Lancers will clash with the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars, whom they toppled in three previous meetings for the crown.

The best-of-five championship series opens on Wednesday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers who struggled in the first period, demolished the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 72-52, while the Jaguars outgunned the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 85-80, in the other semifinal match-up.

UV and USJ-R met for the title for three consecutive years from 2002 to 2004.

Defending secondary champions UV Baby Lancers also returned to the finals after scoring a 90-87 victory over the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers.

The UV bantams will play against the Universitry of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters, who maintained their mastery over the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens.

Trailing at the start of the second period, 22-17 after a basket by Enrico Llanto, the Lancers erupted with an 18-2 run and took the lead for good, 35-24 at the halftime mark. 

Only Michael Cantonao was able to score for the Warriors in the second period.

When the Lancers’ lead ballooned to 14 points, 40-26, the Warriors staged their own minor rally by retaliating with a 9-0 run to come within five points, 35-40 but things suddenly changed when Cantonao was whistled for an offensive foul against the Lancer’s Bonifer Sendrijas.

Ritchum Dennison sizzling from the floor to lead the Lancers with 22 points while behemoth Greg Slaughter and Edrian Lao very well complimented on offense as they dominated the post unmindful of Llanto’s presence.

Lao had 11 points for the Lancers while slaughter, Von Harry Lanete and Chris Victor Diputado all finished with 10 points each.

Only Harold Cincoflores and Harlow Villanil did not finish in double figures out of the eight Lancers who scored.

John Emel Rowe, who tried to keep the Warriors alive, had 11 points and was the only bright hope for their offense when the others were having an off night.

The monumental bust was San Jordan Hermosa, who was scoreless in the entire game, while the presence of Giovanni Padillo, Joven Cid Cortes and Llanto only had a little impact as the Warriors’ bid to forge a rubbematch proved futile.

“I am preparing well for our defense against the Jaguars, but it is a secret. The way the Jaguars defended Jun Mar Fajardo gave me an idea on how to utilize Slaughter at the post”, said UV coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug.

Meanwhile, the Webmasters gave the Jaguars a hard time, but experience and cohesiveness allowed USJ-R to pull away with a hard earned win.

The Webmasters had a chance to steal the game in the closing moments, but just when it mattered most, their shooting went sour.

Rookie Kurt Amores had a breakout game leading the Jaguars with 16 points while Luther Luke Justiniani and Lyndon Gudez added 15 points apiece but the most important factor was the double-double performance of Armand Ponce who had 11 points and 11 assists.

Fajardo, who fouled out at the start of the fourth period in Game 1, led the Webmasters with 30 points that drew the attention of Manila coaches in the likes PBL coach Junel Baculi and Letran assistant coach Mel Alas.

The scores:

First Game: Jrs.

UV (90) – Auditor 33, Fajardo 22, Cabañero 20, Arcenal 5, Ybañez 4, Brigoli 2, Marata 2, Felisario 2

USPF (87) – Ferraren 27, Demana 11, Cañete 10, Arong 9, Batucan 8, Vergas 8, Nudalo 7, Caguindangan 5, Climaco 2

Second Game: Jrs.

UC (89) – Taboada 20, Pogoy 19, Pearce 16, Ampoon 13, De Lara 9, Palileo 6, Labolabo 2, Solon 2

CIT (83) – Tallo 20, Getalla 19, Brigoli 15, Almario 12, Nalos 7, Taghoy 6, Sanchez 4

Third Game: Srs.

USJR (85) — Amores 16, Justiniani 15, Gudez 15, Ponce 11, Delfino 10, Pogoy 6, Gabas 4, Malinao 2, Villaver 2, Bibera 2, Pateño 2

UC (80) – Fajardo 30, Abella 16, Ramos 11, Quilantang 11, Pao 8, Luceño 4, Mohamad 3

Fourth Game: Srs.

UV (72) – Dennison 22, Lao 11, Diputado 10, Lanete 10, Slaughter 10, Cincoflores 4, Villanil 3

USC (52) – Rowe 11, Bautista 8, Cantonao 8, Padillo 7, Cortes 4, Bakker 4, Joven 4, Llanto 4. - THE FREEMAN