Warriors trip UV

Games today (Cebu Coliseum)

4 p.m. – UV vs. SWU

6 p.m. – San Beda vs. UE

The University of the East Red Warriors nipped the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 79-76, thanks to a clutch shot by high-leaping guard Roi Sumang, in yesterday’s  second day of the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Sinulog Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win allowed the Red Warriors of head coach Jerry Codinera to even their record at 1-1 in this brief four-team tournament, following their opening day loss to the MLKP-Southwestern University Cobras.

It was a back-and-forth match with both teams clawing at one another fiercely. The difference though, proved to be Sumang who came up with two key plays on both ends of the floor that gave UE the victory.

UE actually led by as much as 11, 40-29, late in the second period before the nine-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) champions made a run at it in the third canto and even took the lead, 69-64 from their back troopers Arvie Cabanero and Chris Perolino. UE tied the game at 73-all off a putback by Moustapha Arafat with 2:21 left in the game.

The game hung in the balance from that point onwards until UV power forward, Wowie Escosio gave his team a slim one-point lead, 76-75, after he split his free-throws with 41 seconds remaining on the clock. On UE’s next offensive, Sumang got away from his defender and drove down the left wing and rose up for a soft floater that kissed the glass and rimmed into the basket for a, 77-76 lead.

UV had a chance to reclaim the lead but John Abad mistimed a pass that was deftly intercepted by Sumang, who then made two free-throws with 9.2 ticks left for a three-point UE advantage. UV’s last chance went out the window as Jerome Silva missed a trey attempt. UV’s Vincent Mendoza actually grabbed the offensive rebound but his pass outside went nowhere, giving UE the victory.

Arafat, the 2011 Basketball Without Borders All Star Game MVP, led UE with 15 markers, eight of them in the final canto. Lord Casajeros added 13, Dan Alberto had 10 while Adrian Santo chipped in 10 points for the Red Warriors.

UV, which lost to the NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions, 69-79, in the second game late Friday evening, got 19 from Abad and 17 from Silva.