UV opens title bid in PBA Youngstars

THE University of the Visayas Baby Lancers try to conquer another mountain as they vie for the national title in the 2012 Coca Cola PBA Youngstars National Championship which kicks off today in Manila.

The Baby Lancers swept their matches in the regional finals last weekend, wherein they beat the Iloilo Central Commercial High School and the University of Negros-Occidental for the right to represent the region in the grassroots basketball tournament.

The odds are stacked against UV as they are ranged against teams from Caloocan, Davao, Laguna, Pampanga and Taytay. The Green Lancers of head coach Jaymar Canoy and team manager Samsam Gullas though, have something going for them as they are not new to this type of competition, after winning the SBP National Under-16 Championships in Baguio early this year.

Leading the Baby Lancers are talented wingmen Leonard Santillan, Ralph Dinolan and Gerald Fernandez along with point guard John Escalona. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio