Green Lancers survive scare from Wildcats
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
1 p.m. – CIT-U vs. CEC (jrs.)
2:30 p.m. – UC vs. USC (jrs.)
4 p.m. – UV vs. SHS-AdC (jrs.)
5:30 p.m. – UC vs. CIT-U (srs.)
Article continues after this advertisementTHE UNIVERSITY of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers flirted with disaster before finally getting their acts together to repulse the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 70-63, in the seniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament, late Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Article continues after this advertisementThe win was the Lancers’ ninth in 11 outings heading to their Sunday showdown with the Southwestern University Cobras, which may decide who will get the second seed in the semifinal round.
UV had to turn to their prolific guards to provide the offense on a night when nothing seemed to go right for them.
CIT-U captured the upper hand late in the third period as Floyd Taboada broke free for a couple of fastbreak layups, which pushed them ahead, 47-44.
The Wildcats had the lead for the last time at 56-53 after Taboada hit a three pointer from the corner at the halfway mark of the final canto.
UV point guard Harold Cincoflores hit consecutive baskets while John Abad hit a short jumper on the fastbreak to put them on top, 59-56. Still, the Lancers were not out of the woods as center Edrian Lao fouled out of the game with 2:57 left in the game.
CIT-U last threatened at 59-63 after a freethrow by Bridrik Brigoli but Fil-Hawaiian forward Rene Saycon as he made a free-throw and competed a three-point play that gave the Lancers a 67-59 lead with 2:29 remaining.
Cincoflores paced UV’s scorers with 14 while Lao settled for 12.
The Wildcats got 19 from Chester Curso and 15 from Allen Dimco.
Today’s playdate will be higlighted by the blockbuster showdown between the two league leaders in the juniors division as the 14-1 (win-loss) UV Baby Lancers face off against the 13-1 Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles. The winner of this matchup will clinch the top seed in the next round. Correspondent Jonas Panerio
