Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
5 p.m. – UV vs. USPF (juniors)
6:30 p.m. – UV vs. USPF (seniors)
The University of the Visayas Green Lancers start today their mission to take back the crown when they face the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Green Lancers were the cream of the crop for the first nine years of the league before getting upstaged in the last two seasons by the University of Cebu Webmasters.
However, with UC’s 6-foot-10 center, June Mar Fajardo, taking his talents to the professional level, the Lancers are poised to reclaim the title that has painfully eluded them for two years.
UV aims to utilize its height and heft advantage to the hilt as it boasts of a humongous frontline that has six players standing 6-foot-5 and above led by recent African recruit, Steve Akomo. Also there are Andrew Avillanoza, Raffy Octobre, Chris Perolino, Arvie Cabanero and highly-touted rookie, Wowie Escosio.
USPF on the other hand, pins its hopes on the broad shoulders of undersized power forward, Fritz Dajalos, sniper Joseph Sedurifa and slashing wingman, James Ferraren.
In the boy’s competition, the reigning champions, UV Baby Lancers open their title defense against the USPF Baby Panthers. UV will be led once again by last year’s MVP, Andres Paul Desiderio and a host of upstarts that were culled from their Passerelle program.