Three teams dispute early leadership in Partner’s Cup hoop tournament

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

4 p.m. – Prime Asia vs Lion Tiger

5:45 p.m. – Gaisano Capital South vs Cebu Landmasters

First day winners Prime Asia-University of the Visayas (UV), Lion Tiger-University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and Cebu Landmasters Inc.-University of San Carlos (USC) will be looking to zoom ahead in the standings but only two will be successful as the 2013 Enervon-Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partner’s Cup continues today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Prime Asia-backed Green Lancers battle the surprising Lion Tiger-supported Panthers in the first game and will be followed by the tiff between the Gaisano Capital South-University of Cebu  taking on the Cebu Landmasters-backed Warriors. Game time is at 4 p.m.

The Green Lancers manhandled the Webmasters, 80-57, during the opening playdate last Sunday in a glowing show of balanced scoring and ferocious defense.

The Panthers, on the other hand, shocked the Raphael’s Sports Bar-University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 63-57.

The Panthers appeared to be a different animal as they showed composure in the face of a tremendous rally by the Jaguars.

Keith Virtuzio ensured the win with a booming three-pointer with 46.5 seconds remaining that shattered a 57-all deadlock.

The Warriors nabbed their first win in the last game of Sunday’s triple-header with a 71-68 win over the San Marino Corned Tuna-Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats.

Garrick Ayala, formerly of the University of the East, tallied 15 points to lead the Wildcats.