The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers reaffirmed their mastery of the defending champions Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons as they defeated the latter, 75-69, in the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win gave UV a 9-1 (win-loss) record while pulling CEC down to 6-3.
The game was unlike UV’s 62-47 win over the Dragons in the first round as CEC fought until the very end and nearly pulled off a comeback from a 12-point deficit in the fourth period before folding in the clutch.
The first three periods were fought of almost even terms with the Baby Lancers just pulling ahead, 53-50, at the end of the third period after a three-pointer by Nelson Peralta late in their final possession during that stretch.
The momentum they gained from that shot carried over to the next canto as Paul Desiderio and Peralta hit some medium-range jumpers, the last one giving them a 12-point bulge, 71-59, with 4:20 left.
CEC rode the coattails of Lyle Sumayang, who single-handedly sparked a 10-0 run that brought them back to within two, 69-71.
However, bad luck halted the Dragons’ charge. On UV’s next possession, Sumayang got called for his fifth and final foul while trying to steal the ball with 45 ticks remaining.
Off that foul call, Jino Berdin calmly sank two freethrows that pushed UV’s lead to four.
The Baby Lancers were led by the 25 points of Paul Desiderio, who scored 11 of those in the opening 10 minutes of action. Peralta chipped in 14.