UV THWARTS USPF IN GAME 1, 68-59

UV Baby Lancers put up 20-point lead in second quarter to take Game 1 of Partners Cup high school finals

The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers is a win away from taking the high school division trophy of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partner’s Cup tournament after a 68-59 win over University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF)-Organique Baby Panthers in Game 1 of a best-of-three series last night in the Cebu Coliseum.

UV immediately pounded USPF with its pressure defense in the opening period. UV held USPF to just four points for a commanding 19-4 lead after the first quarter. USPF’s dismal shooting from long range and also inside the paint didn’t help either.

USPF started to find its groove in second quarter, looking better on the offensive end. But UV was spectacular offensively thanks to high-flying forward Leandro Actub, who scored seven points in the period and had a highlight reel fastbreak slam to help put up a 36-16 lead at halftime.

USPF came alive in the third quarter with 9-0 run to start the period to trim down the lead. Rohan Montemayor sparked the run, scoring seven points in that rally, to make it 38-25.

Joshua Yerro finally stopped the bleeding with a putback in the 8:11 mark.

USPF cut the lead down to 11 points, 43-32, but UV finished strong to bring it back up to 17 points, 56-39, going into the fourth.

UV controlled the fourth quarter and led by as much as 21 points. USPF managed to get it close in the last few minutes of the ball game after UV already fielded its bench.

Actub led UV with 24 points, while Yerro added 14.

Kyle Ochavo was the lone USPF player scoring in double figures with 10.

Meanwhile, USPF and University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) won third place honors.

USPF squeaked past USJ-R, 65-64, in the collegiate battle-forthird place , while USJ-R defeated University of Cebu (UC), 81-73, for third place in the high school division. /