SHS-AdC routs defending champion UV Baby Lancers in game 2 of Cesafi juniors finals

Game today:

Cebu Coliseum

6 p.m. – UV vs. SWU (Srs.)

The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles are but a breath away from realizing the dream that has eluded them for two straight years after they routed the reigning champions University of the Visayas Baby Lancers, 96-82, in Game Two of the best-of-five juniors finals series in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win gave the Eagles a commanding 2-0 series lead. UV denied SHS-AdC the crown last year in a heart-pounding series that went the distance.

Big man Dawn Ochea put on a performance worthy of the Most Valuable Player award that he received before the game as he scored 29 points, 15 of which came in the final canto when UV came knocking on their door. He also had 18 rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocked shots.

The game was played tit-for-tat as UV came back from a 13-point deficit in the second period and were within just three at halftime, 37-40.

But the Eagles soared in the third canto as they went on a 19-2 run, and at one point, scored 13 unanswered points that put them on top, 61-43. Gio Laguyo started the run with an acrobatic layup and was followed by another layup by Janjan Jaboneta.

The wheels started to fall off UV’s wagon later after Paul Desiderio was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for swinging his elbow in the face of SHS-AdC’s Jair Igna, while head coach Delfin Pepito was slapped with a technical foul for excessive complaining. As a result, the lead ballooned to a high of 22, 69-47.

UV got 34 points from Desiderio again got little help from the rest of the team.

Meanwhile, SHS-AdC’s Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw snatched the Rookie of the Year award in the juniors division.

SWU EYES 2-0

Today, the Southwestern University Cobras prepare for a huge fightback from the UV Green Lancers as Game Two of the best-of-five seniors finals series commences tonight at the same venue.

After losing twice to UV earlier in this tournament, SWU turned things around at just the right time to take a head start in the championship series after winning Game One, 77-72. The loss was the Lancers’ first in this season after going unblemished through the elimination round and the semifinals.

“It will be no secret. UV will be more aggressive. They will make adjustments but not big ones. After all, we’ve faced one another three times already this season. We know one another pretty well,” said SWU coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba.

With the shaded lane too clogged for talented big man Ben Mbala to work in, the Cobras bombed away from the outside, making three three-point shots courtesy of guards, Joseph Nalos and Bon Guillena in the fourth period that spelled the difference in the tight contest.