Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
1 p.m. – USC vs. CIT-U (jrs.)
2:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs. DBC (jrs.)
4 p.m. – CEC vs. USPF (jrs.)
5:30 p.m. – UV vs SWU (srs.)
The University of the Visayas Baby Lancers proved they are made of steely stuff after snatching a win from the jaws of defeat by outlasting the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 96-91 in a double-overtime yesterday in the juniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
With the top seed in the semifinal round at stake, the two proud schools gave it their all and it showed as several key players were not able to finish the game due to cramps. In the end, it was the Baby Lancers who remained standing, thanks to their resiliency and the heroics of rookie wingman, Paul Desiderio.
The Magis Eagles were at the cusp of victory as they led, 71-66, in regulation behind an 8-0 run that pulled them out of a 63-66 deficit. However, Desiderio completed a three-point play to pull UV within two, 69-71, with 17 seconds remaining. Ateneo’s Patrick Go split his charities on their offensive and UV took advantage with Nelson Peralta slicing the deficit down to one with a coast-to-coast lay-up.
Then, Ron Dennison stole Ateneo’s inbound pass and was fouled while going for the lay-up. He could have won the game outright but made just one free-throw to send the game to overtime.
The same sob story surfaced for the Magis Eagles in the extension as they once again led at, 83-80 after two freebies by Mark Segador with 10.6 seconds left. But Desiderio again lifted the Baby Lancers as he collared the loose ball, stepped behind the three-point arc in the corner and promptly hit the equalizer with 0.4 of a second left to send the match to another extension.
Desiderio continued his incredible performance by hitting two free-throws and a three-point play to put his team ahead, 92-85, with 2:52 remaining.
The Magis Eagles responded with six straight points, four from Dawn Ochea and a floater down the middle by Henry Asilum, to once again come to within one, 91-92, with 54 seconds left.
Dennison hit a free-throw on UV’s next possession to put them up by two before Ateneo hammered the nail on their own coffin as Asilum dribbled the ball out of bounds with 13 remaining on the clock. King delos Santos and Desiderio added free-throws down the stretch to seal the crucial victory.
Desiderio had 34 points in leading UV to their 14th win in 15 games. Sacred Heart fell to 12-2 and was paced by the 23 of Ochea. The Magis Eagles must now win over defending champions Cebu Eastern College Dragons on Tuesday to secure the second seed and the last twice-to-beat bonus.
CEC beat the Cebu Institute of Technology Wildkittens, 79-68 for their 12th win in 15 matches while the University of Cebu tripped the University of San Carlos, 79-74, in the day’s other juniors games.