UV outlasts SWU in Game 4 to force winner-take-all Game 5

In less than a week, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers have turned themselves from meek prey to confident predators.

They completed the transformation yesterday when they upended the defending champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 71-66, in Game Four of the Cesafi men’s basketball Finals at the packed-to-the-rafters Cebu Coliseum.

With the win, this best-of-five finals series is now tied at 2-2.

Widely considered to be down and out of it after losing the first two games by double-digits, the Lancers proved all the doubters wrong as they cut the Cobras down to size with their transition offense and perimeter shooting in the first half to build a sizable advantage.

They needed every bit of that cushion as they withstood a furious comeback by SWU to seize the victory and send this war of attrition to its final battle – Game Five scheduled tomorrow at the same venue.

UV is now on the brink of both history and redemption as no team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit in the finals to win the title.

A win in Game Five would also gain UV sweet vengeance for the title loss that it suffered at the hands of these very same Cobras last season.

Mythical Five guard John Abad provided the spunk and leadership for UV as he came up with a masterful performance, finishing with 24 points, eight assists, five rebounds and five steals.

The 5-foot-7 guard pitched in 15 points in the first half that helped put UV in front, 43-29.

Wowie Escosio added 14 points while Franz Arong, back from his one-game suspension, chipped in 11 markers.

UV head coach Felix Belano said he motivated his troops by sharing with them the biblical story of Daniel, the man who came away unscathed in the presence of lions.

“We really want to fight until the end and play like there’s no tomorrow,” Belano said. “I can see that the focus is really there for my players, which is how we made all those free-throws and outside shots. But still, we want to remain humble and come out fighting in Game Five.”

The league’s newly-crowned MVP Mark Jayven Tallo scored a game-high 28 points for SWU, which came to within five, 64-69, in the last 1:37 of the fourth after trailing by as many as 18 in the third.

SWU had several chances to come even closer but UV made its free throws down the stretch to preserve the important win.