THE UNIVERSITY of the Visayas Green Lancers kept their intensity up as they prepare for the Cesafi playoffs after they trounced the Vice Mayor’s Office/Royal Mandalay Hotel, 70-58, in an exhibition game late Saturday afternoon at the UV gym.
VMO, the champion of the recent Kadayawan Commercial Basketball Tournament in Davao City, started off on a good note as it led, 18-17.
However, UV’s stingy defense kicked in and limited its opponents to just six points in the ensuing canto that gave the Green Lancers a 37-24 lead at halftime.
UV kept the pressure up in the third canto, which ended in spectacular fashion. With seconds winding down, UV’s Cameroonian rookie Cedrick Akomo posterized VMO’s Jason Garnette with a huge tomahawk slam. Not to be upstaged, Garnette, on their offensive just before the third period buzzer, took an alley-oop pass from Al Vergara and slammed the ball home.
VMO was able to come within four, 52-56, but a three-pointer by Jerome Silva sparked a game-closing 12-5 run that notched the win for the home squad.
Akomo had 14 points to lead UV while Eman Calo added 13 markers.
Silva and Wowie Escosio each had 11 points.
VMO got 14 from Garnette and 13 from former Cebu Gem Rob Wainwright. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio