Cesafi champion UV plays better, wins third-place trophy in FilOil Unigames hoop

The reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers took care of business and brought home the third place trophy after they upended the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 100-88, in the 18th FilOil University Games yesterday at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

A day after ripping into his team for their lackadaisical efforts against Ateneo-B in the semifinal round, the Green Lancers responded with aplomb, as they dug deep on the defensive end of the floor to limit the Tigers’ main man, UAAP Mythical Five member, Karim Abdul.

“The team really played with a lot more effort compared to yesterday. They played with a lot of pride and played like champions,” head coach Felix Belano said.

Last Sunday, Belano was highly critical of his team’s showing against Ateneo-B and thought that his team was overly-confident owing to its 94-84 win over Kiefer Ravena and the rest of Ateneo-A in the elimination round. That resulted in a disappointing 49-75 beating at the hands of Chris Newsome-led Ateneo-B in the semifinals.

Fortunately, they managed to right the ship yesterday and took advantage of the absence of UST’s key players Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano and the pro-bound Jeric Teng.

Meanwhile, the defending UniGames champions National University Bulldogs kept their crown with a thrilling 56-55 win over Ateneo-B.

The Bulldogs managed to eke out the victory in spite going scoreless in the last two minutes of the game.