CEBU, Philippines — It takes a village to build a champion.
Drawing inspiration from this famous line, University of the Visayas Green Lancers head coach Gary Cortes expressed his profoundest gratitude to the UV community for being the chief driving force behind the success they attained in the recently concluded 23rd Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season.
Fighting with a sense of urgency, the Lancers outclassed the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 60-41, in the do-or-die game of their best-of-three finals to retain their throne as college division champions three nights ago at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was the Lancers' fifth title in seven straight finals appearances under the guidance of Cortes since 2015.
Overall, they now have 15 championship trophies to galvanize their status as the winningest team in the league's 23-year history. Nine of them were delivered by coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug during CESAFI's first nine seasons from 2001 to 2009 while coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. produced one in 2013.
Cortes said they could not have savored another crowning glory had it not been for the overwhelming support of their Visayanian family.
And that made him truly thankful deep inside his heart.
"In behalf of the UV Green Lancers Team, daghan kaayong salamat sa tanan nga dumadapig nga mipadayag sa inyong pag-congratulate sa atong dugang nga kampiyonato ug kadaogan," Cortes wrote on his Facebook page. "Ang inyong mga palakpak ug mga maanindot nga pulong ang nakapaikag kanamo sa pagpaningkamot."
"Ug labaw sa tanan, daghan kaayong salamat sa pamilya Gullas. Sa mga team sponsors nga naggahin og pundo nga para igasto sa adlaw-adlaw nga galastuhan, sa kumunidad sa UV, sa tanan magtutudlo, sa mga estudyante ug sa uban nga dumadapig, salamat sa suporta ug pagsalig. Salamat hilabi na sa atong labaw nga makagagahum. Dili ni namo makab-ot kon dili tungod kaninyo."
"Dugang paningkamot ug kalampusan sa umaabot. Hinaut pa unta," added Cortes, hinting that he will stay as UV's chief strategist for at least another year.