UV-backed squad downs Kia-CIT-U in fight-marred Game 1 of Partner’s Cup Finals

The Prime Asia Pawnshop-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers surged ahead in their best-of-five championship series against the Kia Motors-Cebu Institute of Technology-University after they defeated the Wildcats, 76-66, in Game 1 of the 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.  Partner’s Cup late Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

However, a game that was headed towards a rather sleepy ending with the Green Lancers asserting their might to take full control of the lead in the second half turned violent and bloody as a free-for-all erupted that saw both teams empty their benches with just 33.7 seconds remaining in the game.

Prime Asia was poised to get the win as they led, 75-66, late in the fourth. After a rebound scramble, UV’s Andrew Avillanoza and CIT-U’s Lloyd Sanchez got tangled up.

Avillanoza got hit by Sanchez at the back of the head, which prompted Avillanoza to retaliate and start a fracas at the bench of Kia Motors.

Both squads rushed and engaged one another, and all hell broke loose as officials and coaches tried to break the scrum up.

The aftermath saw Sanchez get slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul and get ejected along with Avillanoza, who ended up with a bloody cheek where a gash was opened up.

The game was close for most of the first half but Prime Asia ended that stretch with a flurry,  capped off by a Phil Mercader three-pointer, for a 38-29 lead.

Mercader and Wowie Escosio each had 13 points in a balanced effort for UV.

Meanwhile, Lion Tiger Aerosol-University of San Jose-Recoletos  won, 73-70, over the San Marino Corned Tuna-University of Southern Philippines Foundation in Game 1 of the battle for third.