Lancers hand Jaguars first loss in CESAFI
The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers suffered a huge offensive meltdown in the
third quarter but fought back with fire in their eyes in the windup to upstage the previously unbeaten University of San JoseRecoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 84-76, in the 17th Cebu SchoolsAthletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu
Coliseum.
Liberian import Bassieru Sackor led five players in double figures with 20 points for the Lancers, who seemed headed to a smooth-sailing win after taking a 58-47 edge with 2:34 left in the third period.
But things drastically changed when the Jaguars, armed with a porous full-court trapping defense, forced the Lancers into a maze of errors. USJ-R made the most out of the golden opportunity by launching a decisive 14-0 assault to gain a 61-58 headway entering the final period.
After the much-needed break, however, the Lancers woke up from deep slumber and staged a daring counter-attack when it mattered. They handcuffed the Jaguars to a paltry four points in the first seven minutes of the final period while torching 24 to rip the game apart.
The Jaguars led for the last time at 63-62 as the Lancers dropped a 20-2 bomb to practically wrap up the match, 82-65, with only 2:57 left to play.
Reigning MVP Rey Suerte tossed in 16 points, Jerome Napao and Josue Segumpan each scored 13 while Sheldon Gahi chipped in 12 markers as the Lancers grabbed the solo second spot with a 4-1 win-loss record.
Jaybie Mantilla had 17 points and Nichole Ubalde added 11 points for the Jaguars, whose best ever 3-0 start come to a sudden rep stop.
It was a rousing twinkill for the Visayanians as the Baby Lancers earlier outlasted the Baby Jaguars, 64-59, in a battle of undefeated teams.
Biern Anthony Laurente pumped in 15 of his topscoring 23 points while Joshua Yerro unloaded 14 of his 16 points in the final quarter capped by a 3points play that sealed the deal for the Baby Lancers, who now enjoy the solo lead in the juniors division with a 4-0 record.
The Baby Lancers trailed at 28-38 with 3:15 left in the third period but Laurente fired two 3-pointers of his 10 points in a 16-5 run that gained them the upperhand, 44-43, with still 7:17 left to play.
The Baby Jaguars quickly moved back on top, 53-48, but Laurente and Yerro again put their acts together, staging a 115 run to push the Baby Lancers ahead for good, 59-58, with 2:41 to go.
After Elmer Echavez tied the score for the last time, 59all, Roosevelt Jelianggao made a crucial steal leading to a breakway up, then Yerro completed another 3-point play to seal the deal for the Baby Lancers with a five-point edge with only 25 seconds left in the game.
John Kirk Gonzaga finished with 21 points and Arnold Dave Ando scored 10 but they went home on a pensive mood as the Baby Jaguars suffered their first loss after an impressive 3-0 start.