The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers feasted on the overall ineptitude of the reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters to gain ground in the semifinals with a 79-45 win yesterday in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Last year’s juniors runners-up Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles also started their campaign for a berth in the finals on a right note as they leaned on a quick start and a spectacular finishing kick provided by all-star guard Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw to down the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, 77-60, in juniors action.
With the semis being a single round-robin affair, the Green Lancers wasted no time in asserting themselves as they took control of the lead with a 16-3 blast in the opening canto that turned a, 5-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead. From then on, it was easy pickings for UV as they steadily increased their lead to 15 at halftime 39-24, and then, 37, 68-31, heading to the final stanza.
The Lancers virtually shut down UC’s vaunted offense by hounding the Webmasters’ main weapon Brian Heruela all-night long. The “Lone Star” guard finished with a paltry eight points as nobody on the squad finished in double-figures.
UV, on the other hand, was paced by the 14 of John Abad. Wowie Escosio and Phil Mercader each had 12 points.