Green Lancers crush defending champions Webmasters; Magis Eagles rout Dragons

The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers feasted on the overall ineptitude of the reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters to gain ground in the semifinals with a 79-45 win yesterday in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.

Last year’s juniors runners-up Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles also started their campaign for a berth in the finals on a right note as they leaned on a quick start and a spectacular finishing kick provided by all-star guard Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw to down the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, 77-60, in juniors action.

With the semis being a single round-robin affair, the Green Lancers wasted no time in asserting themselves as they took control of the lead with a 16-3 blast in the opening canto that turned a, 5-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead. From then on, it was easy pickings for UV as they steadily increased their lead to 15 at halftime 39-24, and then, 37, 68-31, heading to the final stanza.

The Lancers virtually shut down UC’s vaunted offense by hounding the Webmasters’ main weapon Brian Heruela all-night long. The “Lone Star” guard finished with a paltry eight points as nobody on the squad finished in double-figures.

UV, on the other hand, was paced by the 14 of John Abad. Wowie Escosio and Phil Mercader each had 12 points.