UV Lancers score 2nd CESAFI triple crown

CEBU CITY – The University of the Visayas Green Lancers swept the University of Cebu Webmasters in their best-of-three finals with a decisive 72-55 victory in Game 2 to complete another grand slam feat in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was UV’s second set of three-peat behind the stewardship of coach Gary Cortes, who also piloted the Lancers to three consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018.

Cortes now has a total of six championship trophies in eight straight finals appearances since taking over UV’s coaching reins in 2015.

In all, the Lancers bagged their 16th crown to galvanize their status as the most winningest team in the league’s 24-year history.

Coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug laid the bedrock for the shining UV dynasty when he piloted the hardcourt warriors in green and white jersey to nine straight championships from the CESAFI’s inaugural season in 2000 until 2009.

Now under the baton of Cortes, the Lancers kept their winning tradition after vanquishing the Webmasters in the finals for the third time in a row.

“In behalf of the UV Green Lancers, daghang salamat sa Gullas family and to the entire Visayanian community. The success we achieved wouldn’t have been possible without their unwavering support,” said Cortes.

Raul Gentallan, who netted 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal and block, bagged the finals MVP award. He was joined in the elite Mythical 5 by his teammate AJ Sacayan, Elmer Echavez of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, Serge Gabines of the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs, and Ray Charles Libatog of the UC Webmasters.