AFTER MISSING the playoffs in the juniors division last year, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers made sure that that would be the last time that they become afterthoughts as they announced their intentions for the crown in a huge way, beating the reigning champions Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 62-47, yesterday in the opening game of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Baby Lancers looked mighty impressive in yesterday’s match as they used grit and physicality to come back from a several 10-point deficits.
UV appeared sluggish for the first three periods as they fell behind, 23-33, with 6:14 left in the third canto. However, they got their acts together and climbed to within three, 38-41, heading to the final period.
Then, UV unleashed a 13-2 bomb that suddenly turned the tide in their favor. With Ron Dennison and Reeve Ugsang leading the way with their inside-outside combination, the Baby Lancers of head coach Delfin Pepito found themselves in front, 51-43.
CEC tried to find its bearings and appeared to be on its way towards a comeback with quick baskets by Rex Villarosa and Luther Huevos that pegged the score at 47-51, with 1:45 remaining.
However, the night simply belonged to UV as Ugsang, Dennison and Paul Desiderio shot in two free-throws each while Nelson Peralta canned a lay-up and a three-pointer that buried the Dragons.
Peralta and Ugsang each had 13 to lead UV while Dennison, the younger brother of former UV sniper, Ritchum Dennison, added 12.
Lyle Sumayang had 14 for CEC but struggled for most of the match, no thanks to the double-teaming defense of UV. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio