UV escapes UC to stay unbeaten

THE UNIVERSITY of the Visayas Green Lancers flirted with disaster before eventually subduing the University of Cebu Webmasters, 86-80, in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The two-time reigning champions fought hard and even held the lead in the fourth period but the Lancers had too much veteran savvy led by the combo of Cameroonian Steve Akomo and Eman Calo, who combined to score 14 of the team’s last 16 points to lead UV to its fifth win in as many games. UC dropped to 2-3.

Calo, in particular, was an assassin on the offensive end as he completed a rare four-point play that stemmed the tide in the wake of a ferocious uprising by UC. He also hit a dagger of a three point shot with 7.6 seconds left that doomed their opponents.

Calo finished with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals.

In the juniors division, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu ran amok against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation for a 105-51 rout.

UV threatened to blow the game wide open as it led by 15, 55-40, early in the third.

UC cut the deficit to five, 60-65, heading to the fourth behind an 11-4 run. The Webmasters took the lead, 72-69, after five straight points from Brian Heruela.

But Calo responded by hitting a straight-away three while getting fouled in the process and was followed by two free-throws by Phil Mercader and another three by Calo for a 78-74 advantage. UC tied the game for the last time at 80-all after two freebies by Heruela with 1:20 left.

Akomo hit the go-ahead freethrows for an 82-80 lead and after a three-point miss by Heruela, UV guard John Abad drove down the lane and found Calo open in the corner for the game-sealing trey with 7.6 ticks left. /correspondent jonas panerio