Green Lancers crawl back from 12 points down to beat UC in Partners Cup Finals opener

Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
5 p.m. – San Marino vs. Rose Aquarius
6:30 p.m. – Gaisano Capital vs. Lion Tiger

The Lion Tiger Aerosols-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers spat in the eye of adversity as they came all the way back from a 12-point deficit to take Game 1, 78-64, over the Gaisano Capital-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in the best-of-five championship series of the 5th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partners Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Mandaue City native Phil Mercader stepped up to score 27 points, 12 coming in a sizzling second period performance that helped Lion Tiger come back from a 10-22 deficit at the end of the first canto.

The Webmasters waxed hot from the get-go as they zoomed in front but the Lancers retaliated in the ensuing frame and ended the first half with a 12-0 blast, which even featured a rare three-pointer from center Edrian Lao.

Mercader and rookie guard Vincent Mendoza pushed the lead further as they connived in a 10-0 blast that established the Lancers’ biggest lead of the game at 11, 45-34.

The Webmasters staged their own rally at the end of the third and even took a 55-53 lead early in the fourth.

But the Lancers responded as Lao completed a three-point play and Mercader hit a three-pointer that put them back in the driver’s seat for good. Lao also had 18 markers to help Lion Tiger.

In the first game, Rose Aquarius-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) took Game 1 of the best-of-three series for third place with a 76-70 win over San Marino Corned Tuna-Southwestern University (SWU).