Veterans save Cebu Landmasters vs. UC
Cebu Landmasters/Bogo relied on their Nigerian import and a couple of their veterans to win their opener in the Sinulog Cup 2018-Cebu Invitational last night in the Cebu Coliseum.
The Landmasters held on to a late fourth-quarter lead to beat University of Cebu (UC)/M. Lhuillier, 79-71.
Despite a poor performance from the charity stripe, Prince Orizo had a huge game for the Landmasters with 20 points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block. He had help from veterans Jercules Tangkay and Ferdinand Lusdoc, who had 14 and 12 points, respectively.
After leading in the first three quarters and by 16 points going into the fourth, UC started the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run sparked by John Calvin Jabello and Frederick Elombi to cut the Cebu Landmasters lead to just six points, 59-53.
“We got overconfident and relaxed,” said Landmasters coach Junthy Valenzuela. “I told them that we needed to win. When UC rallied and I called a timeout, the veterans knew the situation. They knew why I called a timeout. You can’t take UC for granted, so goes with the other teams.”
John Abad stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer in the 7:51 mark, followed by a layup by Orizo for a 64-53 lead.
UC threatened the Landmasters again late in the game with six unanswered points from a three-pointer by Justine Dacalos, a free throw by Virlo Orquez and a two-pointer down low by Elombi to trim it to just three, 74-71, with 1:38 remaining.
Tangkay showed his composure and ended UC’s run with a 15-foot jumper to bring make it 76-71 with 1:02 left. Jabello, who was hot early in the period, tried to cut it to a one-possession game but he missed his corner three.
Travis Mantua converted his free throws to make it 78-71 after being fouled by Elombi with 52.4 seconds left. A pass by Dacalos down low was fumbled by Elombi, which forced him to commit his sixth foul on John Reel Saycon.
Saycon split his free throws for the final tally.
“We can’t press the whole game because we just came from a vacation. I know it’s not an excuse but our players are not in shape. It’s also because of the typhoon because half of my players are from Mindanao. We are a young team and we have that never-say-die attitude. We had a good showing and next game we will improve,” said UC head coach Yayoy Alcoseba. “It’s not a joke plying with veterans. It showed their experience and showed our inexperience.”
Elombi had 23 points, nine boards, three assists, a steal and a block to lead UC. Da - calos added 21 points, 10 from beyond the arc, along with five rebounds and six assists.
The Landmasters take on University of the Visayas (UV)/ SG-ARQ Builders at 4:30 p.m. today, while the Marinerong Pilipino faces the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R)/May Abuhan at 6:30 p.m. /