UV Lancers go for the jugular, UC Webmasters seek lifeline

CEBU, Philippines — Getting a big boost from their dominant victory in the series opener, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers vow to go for the clincher but must brace for an all-out war against the University of the Cebu (UC) Webmasters aiming to bounce back in Game 2 of the best-of-three Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 college basketball finals today (Saturday, December 7) at the Cebu Coliseum.

“We won by a large margin. The Game 1 victory was a confidence-booster. Now we have to have that killer instinct. We should not give them a chance to recover. We will go for the kill in Game 2,” said Lancers head coach Gary Cortes moments after they pummeled the Webmasters, 66-45, two nights ago.

   The Lancers are now on the doorstep of completing a second set of three-peat under the guidance of Cortes, who first piloted UV to a Grand Slam feat from 2016 to 2018.

Overall, Cortes is gunning for his sixth crown in eighth straight Finals appearance since taking over the Lancers’ coaching reins in 2015.

 Cortes and the Lancers could achieve another milestone if they beat the Webmasters again in their 6 p.m. duel.

 Their Thursday night encounter was actually close  at first, with the Webmasters even leading by three points, 31-28, late in the second period. 

But the Lancers found their range in the third frame where they handcuffed the Webmasters to a paltry four points while dropping 19 to take control of the match with a 49-35 advantage going into the final 10-minute mark.

The red-hot Lancers continued to pounce on the Webmasters, stretching their lead to as high as 23 points, 66-43, on three consecutive bombs from beyond the arc by AJ Sacayan and Froilan Maglasang in the dying seconds of what turned out to be a lopsided contest.

Overall, the Lancers pounded the Webmasters, 36-14, in a fierce second-half assault. Bench scoring was also a key factor for UV where it posted a 47-19 edge.

While the Lancers go for the kill, the Webmasters of coach Kernn Sesante are expected to make the necessary adjustments as they prepare to launch a huge fightback in the hope of keeping their bid of ending a 13-year title drought alive.