Good luck, UV Lancers on to Russia today to represent Phl in basketball event of 27th Universiade

CEBU, Philippines - The Haier-sponsored University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers will be leaving for Kazan, Russia Federation today to represent the Philippines in basketball event of the 27th Summer Universiade set from July 6-17, bringing along with them an excess baggage of putting up one big fight for the flag and country in the prestigious tournament considered as the Olympics of the best university athletes all over the world.

"I want all of you to embody that UV fighting spirit because you are bringing the name of the Philippines," UV President Eduardo "Eddiegul" R. Gullas told his players, who paid him a courtesy call yesterday afternoon.

Gullas is cognizant of the fact that the competition would be tough especially that the UV-Phl Team is bracketed alongside two-time defending champion Serbia, Romania, Mexico, Mongolia, and Japan.

But for Gullas, the most essential thing for the Lancers is to represent the country well in an event of such magnitude.

"The fact that our flag will fly there is already an honor," said Gullas. "As Pierre de Coubertin once said, it's not all about winning, but fighting well."

The UV Lancers, record-holder for their ninth straight championship in the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), earned the right to carry the country's colors in the biennial sports conclave after winning the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) last March in Bukidnon.

Their Kazan trip is being financed by Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP), the country's only university sports federation that is recognized by the International University Sports Federation, which sanctions the Summer and Winter Universiades.

For his part, Lancers head coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. said his wards are ready to give their opponents a decent fight anchored on his 'Three C' philosophy that stands for character, chemistry and conditioning.

"I always emphasized to them the 'Three C' - character, chemistry and conditioning. It's a basketball philosophy I learned when I had the opportunity to join the training camp of the San Antonio Spurs some years back. These are now the key ingredients that make up our team," said Belano.

"More importantly, I want them to treasure the experience of being able to represent the country in an international competition. They should fight up to the last minute," added Belano, who wrote history when he was still a pro cager for becoming the first and only Filipino player to record a quadruple-double in a single game.

And as they embark of a tough challenge a thousand miles away from home, the Lancers drew some inspiring words from Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas, Jr., who is also their ever support team manager.

"Seldom in one's life you get that chance to represent the country," said Samsam Gullas, who is also UV's assistant vice president for finance and administration. "Play with pride and honor because you are representing not only  the school, not only for Cebu, but the entire country."

Aside from the Lancers, FESSAP is also fielding in at least 70 athletes from various disciplines in the 12-day tilt that has attracted over a thousand competitors from close to 200 nations. The other Cebuano athletes who will form part of Team Philippines are Jerny Kaye Pepito and Val Stephen Rojas of the University of Cebu (UC) in table tennis and Kelly Kaye Rojas of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) in weightlifting. (FREEMAN)