UV Green Lancers trounce USC Warriors in quarterfinals of FilOil University Games

Reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers took another step closer to the basketball title in the 18th FilOil University Games after they thrashed fellow Cebuano squad University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 76-54, in the quarterfinal round yesterday at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

The win pushed the Lancers to the semifinal round, where they will face the Team B of the UAAP powerhouse Ateneo Blue Eagles.

This match-up provides a chance for the Lancers to sweep Ateneo in this tournament. UV beat the Kiefer Ravena-led Ateneo-A squad, 94-84, in the elimination round earlier in the week.

However, Ateneo-B figures to be a tougher opponent with the team being manned by Nigerian import, Ikeh Chibueze, Joma Adornado, the son of former PBA MVP Bogs Adornado, Ivan Enriquez, Earl Murphy and UAAP varsity team members Chris Newsome, Von Pessumal and Nico Elorde. Ateneo-B booked its slot in the semifinals after beating the West Negros Univsity, 79-71.

The Lancers were neck-to-neck with the Warriors for the first 30 minutes of the game as they led, 47-42, heading to the last canto. But UV, with its confidence riding high after breezing through its first four games in this competition, blew the game wide open in the fourth period, outscoring USC, 29-12, in that stretch to register the lopsided win.

Reserve guard Alfred Codilla paced five players in double-figures with 16 points while Cesafi Mythical Five member John Abad finished with 12.

The other semifinals pairing will pit the defending champions National University Bulldogs against recent UAAP runners-up University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.