University of the Visayas Green Lancers leave for Russia for 27th Summer Universiade

Represent the country with pride and honor.

Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas had this send-off message for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, who will leave for Kazan, Russia today to compete in the 27th Summer Universiade

“They should treasure this opportunity to play for the country. Out there, they are not only carrying their names and school but the name of the country as well,” said Gullas, the team manager of UV.

Gullas announced in a press conference yesterday that the team, composed of 10 players and two coaches, will leave for Manila at 11:30 a.m. today. The team will fly to Hongkong the next day then to Moscow. From Moscow, the team will then travel to Kazan, the host of the biennial meet slated July 5 to 13.

Head coach Donbel Belano said with UV going up against taller and bigger teams, the Lancers will have to rely on their “three “Cs.”

“I emphasized to my players the importance of the three Cs. We have to rely on our chemistry, conditioning and character,” said Belano, a former PBA player.

Belano said the Lancers should treasure the chance of playing for the country.

“It was my dream to play for the country. There was a time when I was offered to be part of the Philippine team but I was not financially stable at the time so I had to decline and instead prioritized my stint in the PBA,” said Belano.

UV president Eduardo Gullas said competing in the tournament without their two Cameroonian imports will be a big test.

“Without the Cameroonian students, it will be the UV spirit that will carry the team,”said the elder Gullas.

The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) picked UV to compete in the biennial meet after the Lancers topped the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) held last March in Bukidnon.

The multi-sporting event will have an estimated 13,500 athletes and officials from nearly 200 countries.

The event will have 27 sports and 351 events.

The Philippines will participate in 11 sports—athletics, swimming, fencing, tennis, beach volleyball, table tennis, judo, badminton, chess, weightlifting and men’s basketball.

UV is bracketed with two-time defending champion Serbia and also, Romania, Mexico, Mongolia and Japan.