UV, USJ-R dispute solo lead

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars dispute the solo lead of the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournamnent tonight at the Cebu Coliseum.

In one of the featured secondary matches, the unbeaten Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles shoot for their fifth straight win when they square off against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens.

The Lancers and the Jaguars currently share the lead in the collegiate division with identical 3-0 records.

The Lancers are apparently more favored than the Jaguars because of their height advantage. They also have a great source of big men.

Six-foot-seven Nigerian Steve Cedric Akomo can be fielded in together with Hernal Escocio and the likes of Rene Jun Sayson, Andrew Avillanoza, Chris Perolino and Rhaffy Octobre.

UV also has veteran guards in Phil Mercader, Eman Calo and John Michael Abad in addition to graduating forward Jerome Silva.

The Lancers, however, should not take USJ-R lightly as the Jaguars have already proven their endurance against big men when they toppled the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 80-72, despite the presence of Cameroonians Benoit Mbala and Justin Aboude.

The Jaguars found their real ace in Abulaiz Suliman along with Miguel Tabaloc, Jason Olbedado, Banjo Capillar, Renato Abing, Medjet dela Rama and James Regalado.

In the secondary games, the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors (2-1) will test the struggling Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons (2-2), while the Baby Jaguars (1-4) will go up against the winless University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers (0-4). – THE FREEMAN