Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
1 p.m. – USPF vs. Don Bosco (Juniors)
2:30 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. CIT-U (Juniors)
4 p.m. – UV vs. CEC (Juniors)
5:30 p.m. – CIT-U vs. SWU (Seniors)
The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers blew hot and cold but eventually prevailed over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 91-80, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Lancers took the lead for good with a huge run late in the first period and continually held off several comeback attempts by the Jaguars to grab their second win in as many games and take the early lead in the standings.
USJ-R started strong as it took a 15-7 lead behind the efforts of the Jaguars’ backcourt players James Regalado and rookie sensation Rendell Senining.
But UV was unfazed by the early surge and retaliated with a searing 14-0 blast that saw contributions from import Mike Harry, Vincent Mendoza and reigning league MVP Wowie Escosio to put the Lancers ahead, 23-19, at the end of the first. They continued to pour it in and led, 46-33, at halftime.
But USJ-R valiantly came back and came to within four, 44-48, after an 11-2 run led by another rookie, Fletcher Galvez and Regalado.
UV head coach Felix Belano had an ace up his sleeve in rookie wingman Venhur Villamor, who hit three of his four three-pointers in the third, the last one giving the Lancers their biggest lead of the game at 67-48.
The Jaguars had one last run in them as the second stringers anchored by Christian Senining and Christian Parker got them to within seven, 72-79, with 4:56 remaining.
But Escosio responded with five straight points and Harry put the game away as he drove down the lane and hammered home a tomahawk dunk.
Harry wound up with 18 points and nine boards while Escosio finished with 15 markers. Galvez led the way for USJ-R with 16 points while Regalado added 15.
In the juniors division, the reigning champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and the Cebu Eastern College Dragons tied the idle UV Baby Lancers at the top after they soundly beat their respective opponents.
The Eagles roasted the Don Bosco Greywolves, 75-45, while the Dragons outlasted the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens, 72-63.
The University of San Carlos Baby Warriors also barged into the win column after they routed the USJ-R Baby Jaguars, 71-48.