UV Lancers breeze through fifth straight  win in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines —  The defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers used an explosive opening assault to crush the Benedicto College Cheetahs, 69-46, and stay unscathed in five starts in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 23 Men’s Basketball Tournament last Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Jim Paul Amistoso tallied 12 points and AJ Sacayan added 10 markers as the Lancers joined the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters on top of the college division leaderboard with identical 5-0 records.

So dominant, the Lancers were in full command of the match after unleashing a lightning 27-3 attack in the first period. They sustained their momentum the rest of the way to come up with a 23-point cakewalk.

Kenneth Babalcon, Kenn Roger Melitante, and Deu Ric Orgong connived for 36 points but their efforts went for naught as the Cheetahs fell to 3-3.

In the other collegiate match-up, Winston Bingil fired 26 points to power the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers to a 77-65 drubbing of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats.

Peter Peteros was the only other double-digit scorer with 10 points for the Panthers, who remained at fourth place in the standings with a 4-1 win-loss mark. The Wildcats dropped to 1-5.

In the juniors level, Judd Kyle Rueda cashed in 15 points while JV Oringo and Ralph Sampan conspired for 21 points as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars pounded the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 92-56, to tighten their grip of the solo second spot with an immaculate 4-0 slate.

On the other hand, Ismael Culdora posted 13 points, while John De la Torre and Kenneth Cole finished with 15 combined points as the UV Baby Lancers subdued the USPF Baby Panthers, 56-48, to earn a share of fourth place with the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons with similar 4-2 cards.