Cesafi runner-up UV routs hapless USJ-R to forge showdown with Holy Trinity College

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

2 p.m. – UV vs. HTC

4 p.m. – SSC-R vs. NU

The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers took advantage of an uninspired effort by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars to log a 79-55 victory and advance in the stepladder phase of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Southern Islands Championship yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win put the Lancers one step closer towards gaining a rematch against the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, who beat them for the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) title last month.

But UV will first have to hurdle the Holy Trinity College of General Santos today at 2 p.m., after the Wildcats advanced  following their 101-77 win over West Negros University earlier yesterday afternoon.

USJ-R shot itself on the foot in the third period, where it went without a field goal and scored just two points off two free-throws for a 31-65 deficit.

Wowie Escosio, Cesafi’s first-ever Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awardee, led the way for UV with 12 points in limited minutes.

Raffy Octobre and Rene Saycon added 11 points each.

Renato Abing paced USJ-R with 13 while Matthew Parker chipped in 12 markers.

In the first game, the Wildcats, champions of the Mindanao qualifiers held last month in Iligan City, got off to fast start, thanks to the 12 points of Christopher Masaglang, who had 12 of his 20 points in the first period.

HTC maintained a 43-34 lead at the half and then blew the game wide open in the third canto as it let go of a 19-7 blast anchored on Meylan Landicho that pushed the lead to 22, 72-50.  The Wildcats erected their biggest lead of the match at 28 at  83-55.

Landicho finished with 18 points while McDenver Polistico added 15 points.