USJ-R routs UV to stay alive

CEBU - The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars finally discovered the secret formula on how to contain the seven-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and that is to stop 6-foot-11 giant Gregory Slaughter.

Games tomorrow

(Cebu Coliseum)

3:30 pm UC vs. USC

(Srs. for 3rd)

5:00 pm UC vs. UV

(Jrs. championship)

6:30 pm USJ-R vs. UV

(Srs. championship)

Facing a possible sweep, the Jaguars held off Slaughter to only two points and went on to score a mind-boggling 86-53 demolition in Game 3 to stay alive in the best-of-five championship series of the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last night at the jampacked Cebu Coliseum. The Lancers are still ahead, 2-1.

It was a double whammy for UV as the Baby Lancers earlier dropped a 95-106 decision to the University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters in their own race-to-3 series for the juniors division title. Thus, UC moved just a win away from dethroning the UV bantams.

It was really a different Jaguars and a different Luther Justiniani who showed up last night. This time, Justiniani played with his heart out and proved his leadership as the most veteran Jaguar by leading their offense with 25 points spiked with four triples. He scored only 11 points combined in the first two games.

Justiniani and Slaughter had contrasting performances. While Justiniani made up from his earlier drawbacks, Slaughter was at his worst. He played in an extremely awful and uncharacteristic manner hitting only one of his six field goals.

Slaughter, the regular season and All-Star MVP, was accounted for a total of 52 points in the two games they won. In Game 3, he scored a paltry two points as he was decisively towed away out of his confort zone by the Jaguars.

The Jaguars actually started the game on the right foot, taking a 44-33 at halftime which they never relinquished until the final belt.

It was the first and only finals game that the Lancers lost by 33 points, but they were down by as many as 38 points, 49-87 on a basket by Marvin Duran just over a minute left in the ballgame.

“Na-confuse ko sa first two games tungod kay ang akong role was more on defense ug offense later. Mao to nga sa naninguha nakong maka-contribute, na-pressure na hinuon ko’g maayo.” said Justiniani.

Justiniani was fairly supported by Lyndon Gudez with 22 points while Ranulfo Malinao and Jabe Delfino scored 13 and 10 markers, respectively.

Only Harold Cincoflores finished in double figures for the Lancers with 18 points.

Earlier, juniors MVP John Marty Pearce led the Junior Webmasters with 26 points, while Roger Pogoy added 23.   

The scores

Juniors

UC (106) - Pearce 26, Pogoy 23, Ampoon13, De Lara11, Tindoy 8, Solon 7, Luzon 6, Palileo 6, Castro 4, Labolabo 2

UV (95) - Cabañero 31, Auditor 21, Ybañez 17, Fajardo 14,Felisario 6, Llense 4, Bonje 2

Halftime: 60-58

Seniors

USJ-R (86) - Justiniani 25, Gudez 22, Malinao 13, Delfino 10, Gabas 9, Ponce 5, Amores 4, Lapiz 2

UV (53) - Cincoflores 18, Lanete 8, Lao 8, Lasala 7, Sendrijas 4, Diputado 3, Mercader3, Slaughter 2

Halftime: 44-33 (THE FREEMAN)