Lancers survive AVSP in double overtime

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers bannered by ex-pros Stephen Padilla and Bruce Dacia needed extra 10 minutes before repulsing the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park, 108-103, at the start of the Carcar Mayor's Cup basketball tournament the other night at the Carcar Sports Complex.

In the 35-above category, Matmat Chicharon knocked out CEBECO, 90-84, to advance into the quarterfinals, while in the SK division, Perrelos defeated Valladolid to move into the semifinals, 67-53.

Trailing by three points with 16 seconds left in the regulation period, 81-84, Lancers squeezed the remaining seconds by making all their attempts from the three-point area and went successful only in their fourth try courtesy of Stephen Padilla's second heave to tie the count, thus, the first overtime.

Again, the Lancers were down by two points in the final 48 seconds of the first overtime, but Rodriguez tied it at 90-all to forge another five-minute extension.

Ave Maria, led by Jercules Tangkay and Danny Aying, raced to 99-94 lead in the second overtime, but The Lancers quickly erased the deficit by scoring eight straight points in the final 1:10 of the match to walk away with a five-point victory.

Rodriguez topscored for the Lancers with 34 points, while Dacia and Mark Ababon had 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Tangkay paced Ave Maria with 25 points, Cainglet added 16 and Jerry Jaca 15 in a losing cause. (THE FREEMAN)