The Cebu Eastern College Dragons found an unlikely hero in new recruit Alfonso Alvizo, who made several key plays on both ends of the floor, to carry them to a pulsating 73-69 win over the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers in the semifinals of the Seaoil NBTC Elite League yesterday at the City Sports Club Cebu basketball court.
The victory allowed the 2010 Cesafi champions to book a slot in the finals, where the reigning champions and bitter rivals Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles await. Game 1 is set tomorrow at the same venue.
The Dragons appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game wide open as they led by 10 after the first period, 23-13.
However, Reeve Ugsang, King delos Santos, Gerald Fernandez and reigning Cesafi MVP Paul Desiderio spearheaded a UV run that sliced the deficit to just two, 32-34, at halftime.
Once again, the Dragons threatened to break away with a 9-0 run after UV tied the game for the first and only time at 40-all. But the Baby Lancers stayed within striking distance and were within two, 47-49, after a buzzer-beating putback by Desiderio, who was celebrating his birthday yesterday.
The Dragons kept the pedal to the metal as they led, 59-51, after a fastbreak layup by Alvizo. The Surigao-native then proceeded to score eight more points in the final canto, with each make breaking the backs of the resilient Baby Lancers.