Lancers gun for clincher anew; Warriors hope to forge rubber

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas Green Lancers will again shoot for the clincher, while the University of San Carlos Warriors will try to extend the series into its full route and keep their back-to-back championship bid in motion when they clash in Game 4 of the best-of-five 16th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. collegiate basketball finals today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game time it set at 5:30 pm.

After taking a solid 2-0 lead with a winning average of 16 points per game, the Lancers need just one more victory to claim their first title in three years and 11th overall since 2000 but the Warriors aren't ready to give them that just yet, raiding Game 3 via a close 56-52 decision to live and fight for another day.

"I have to take my hats off for my boys. They played with a heart," said USC coach Rommel Rasmo. "I hope we will be able to carry that mometum into our next game. It's another task game for us, but let's just wait and see what will happen next. As what I've said earlier, we will just play our game and live with the result."

The Lancers actually dictated the tempo of the match during Game 3, but the Warriors found an unlikely heroes in Gio Laguyo and Conrad Catapusan to gain a new lifeline.

With the Lancers ahead by three, 49-52, at the final 1:33 mark of the contest, Laguyo scored on a barreling drive to knot the count at 52-all with 51 seconds left to play. In the ensuing sequence, USC's 6-foot-8 Congolese import Scory Ntumba blocked a potential game-tying jumper by UV forward Jan Monic Soliva.

Laguyo picked up the loose ball, then wisely made a beautiful lob pass leading to a breakaway layup by Catapusan that put back USC on top, 54-52, with 10.4 ticks left in the gameclock.

The Lancers further deepened their woes when veteran pointguard Alfred Codilla was charged for an offensive foul with only four seconds to go. That capped what had been an awful night by Codilla.

In an effort to stop the clock, the Lancers quickly fouled Laguyo, who cooly dropped his pressure-packed free throws to seal the deal for the Warriors with three seconds remaining.

"My players lacked killer instinct in that particular game. But I also have to credit to USC. I knew beforehand that they are capable of fighting back. We Just have to give it another try and hopefully get the job done," said UV coach Gary Cortes.

For the Lancers to wrap up the series, Liberian import Bassieru Sackor and local mainstays Rey Suerte, Josue Segumpan, Monic Soliva, Jerome Napao, and Codila must play more consistent. The same goes to the likes of Tristan Albina, Jayson Balabag and Michael Macion.

Pointguard Sheldon Gahi must also be given enough time to tend their backcourt especially when Codilla and Suerte are having a hard time just luike in Game 3. Though seldom used, Gahi have shown many times in the past that he can provide offensive spark for the Lancers when needed.

The Warriors, on the other hand, will again pin their hopes on Ntumba, Laguyo and Catapusan as well as Ian Tagapan, Kevin Oleodo, Victor Rabat, Clint Muñez, Malcolm Tan, Dolan Adlawan and Lucky  Ecarma. Before Laguyo and Catapusan's heroes, it was Oleodo who bravely carried the fight for the Warriors, scoring six straight points that scuttled every UV move to pull away. (FREEMAN)