Abad tows Lancers to nail-biting victory

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

5 p.m. – USC vs. CEC (Jrs.)

6:45 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. UV (Jrs.)

The University of the Visayas’ (UV) crafty point guard John Abad saved the day for the Green Lancers as he rescued them from the jaws of defeat by scoring the team’s last five points, including the game-winning three-pointer, to lift them to a 64-61 win over the hard-fighting University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the resumption of the semifinal round in the 13th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Abad, the league’s MVP in the preseason, lived up to his lofty credentials as he picked up the looseball off a scramble and squared up and rattled in a three pointer that put them ahead, 64-61, with 1:21 left in the game.

The veteran guard finished with a game-high 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal that helped push UV’s record in this round to 3-1 (win-loss).

In the first game, the defending champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras did not skip a beat as they scored their 10th straight win this season—and the fourth in a row in the semifinals—with a resounding 69-49 beating of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

The Jaguars led, 15-7, after the opening period as they capitalized on the whopping nine turnovers of the Cobras during that stretch.

SWU hit its stride and outscored USJ-R, 46-15, in the next 20 minutes of action to take control of the game.

African import Landry Sanjo led the way with 16 points, 14 boards, two steals and two blocks while Monbert Arong added 12 markers.

In the main game, UV led, 58-50, in the fourth when USC made a run and reclaimed the lead, 59-58, after a long three pointer by Victor Rabat with 5:48 remaining.

UV took the driver’s seat once more, 61-59, after Mike Nzuesseu split his charities and Abad hit a teardrop. But USC managed to tie the game after a driving lay-in by Nico Magat, leading to Abad’s heroics.

Three other Lancers reached double-figures as Nzuesseu, Wowie Escosio and Rhaffy Octobre had 12 points each. USC, which dropped to 1-3, was paced by the 12 points of Rabat. Warriors import Ahmed Salihou was held down to just 10 points but had 15 rebounds and five blocks.