Collars 5th Cesafi Partners Cup title

The Lion Tiger Aerosols-University of the Visayas Green Lancers served vengeance on a silver platter to bitter rivals the Gaisano Capital-University of Cebu Webmasters.

This, after the rampaging green machine ruled the 5th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Paretners Cup via a convincing sweep of the Webmasters, after winning Game 3 of their best-of-five finals series, 77-70, Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Even with 6-foot-10 center Junemar Fajardo in full duty after initially being pegged out of the series because of a foot injury, there was little the Webmasters could do against the Lancers, who came from behind to snatch the victory and end the series, 3-0.

It was sweet revenge for the Lancers who lost to UC in last year’s Cesafi finals. The win also gave rookie head coach Felix Belano his first crown since taking over the squad early this year.

For a while, it seemed as if the Webmasters were headed towards Game 4 as they dominated the entire first half and led, 40-29, behind Fajardo and young prodigy, Roger Pogoy. They established their largest lead of 15 points, 48-33, at the start of the second half.

But the Lancers roared back with an 18-3 blast ignited by Jerome Silva’s three-pointer and a three-point play. Harold Cincoflores added his own trifecta, John Abad made two straight layups and Chris Perolino completed a three-point play that brought UV to within one, 51-52.

The Webmasters though, weathered the storm and stayed in front, 57-54, going to the fourth.

Then Silva banged in five straight points that opened an 11-2 UV run, including a basket by Edrian Lao with 7:32 left that put the Lancers ahead for good. The Webmasters came close several times but UV effectively plugged their rally on Cincoflores’ long three-pointer and RG Rios’ basket that gave them a 71-65 lead with two minutes left.

A free-throw by Fajardo put UC within three, 70-73, but Cincoflores and Abad calmly sank their free-throws down the stretch to secure the title, their second after winning the event’s first edition five years back.

Cincoflores led UV with 21 points while Silva and Abad had 17 and 13, respectively. Fajardo paced UC with 27 points while Pogoy added 14.