Beat Magis Eagles to win Cesafi secondary crown

After three long years, the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers returned to their throne atop the juniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI).

This, as the Babay Lancers rallied from a 10-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to stun the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 85-82, to claim the title in the deciding Game 5 of the best-of-five finals series yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Showing poise, confidence and grit worthy of the Lancer tradition, the Baby Lancers snatched the title with a furious fourth period comeback that left the proud Eagles and their blue-clad supporters, dazed and confused. The victory also erased the stinging defeat suffered by their older counterparts, which failed to make it to the finals for the first time since the league’s inception in 2001.

For the Eagles, it’s back to the drawing board to ponder where they went wrong after establishing a 65-55 lead at the end of the third period. It is their second straight loss in the finals after getting swept by the Cebu Eastern College Dragons last season. They were almost there as they unleashed an 11-4 run in the latter stages of the third stanza fueled by three three-point bombs by Aaron Sing.

HUGE FINAL QURTER FOR UV

However, it did not take long for the Baby Lancers to get back in the thick of things. Just a minute and a half into the final period, they were behind by just two, 63-65, after a trey and a three-point play by Ron Dennison and a jumper by Gino Berdin. Later, Nelson Peralta tied the game with a floater and gave UV the lead with a booming three-pointer, 70-67, with a little over six minutes remaining.

Two free-throws by Paul Desiderio and a lay-up by Matthew Oche eventually gave UV their biggest lead of the game at seven, 74-67. All in all, the Baby Lancers unleashed a 19-2 run in less than five minutes that turned the tide in their favor.

Still, the Magis Eagles clawed their way back with a three-point play by Dawn Ochea off an inbound play with 44.8 ticks left. After a free-throw by Oche on the other end, Ateneo came even closer as Henry Asilum made a floater down the middle to peg the score at 80-81.

Oche was again fouled on UV’s next offensive and he made the first free-throw. He missed the second but Desiderio, who was adjudged as the league MVP, grabbed the offensive board and made two free-throws to give them a four point lead and the title.

Desiderio finished with 21 points, 11 coming in the final period. Dennison added 14 while Peralta and Oche chipped in 13 and 12, respectively. The Magis Eagles got 19 from Asilum.

The Mythical Five selection though, was mired in controversy as it was composed of players from the teams playing in the finals. Dexter Lucero, Peralta and Desiderio made it from UV while Julius Cadavis and Ochea got in from SHS-AdC. Notable snubs were Rommel Diapera from third placers, University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Lyle Sumayang from last year’s champions, CEC.