UV Baby Lancers turn heads in PSSBC debut

The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers fired an early warning shot to their Manila rivals after they clipped the wings of the Mapua University (MU) Red Robins, 8978, at the start of the 6th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC) Dickies Underwear Cup yesterday at the SGS Stadium in Quezon City.

All-Star center Jancork Cabahug unloaded 21 points laced with 14 rebounds and three blocks to lead a balanced offensive charge in UV’s wireto-wire victory.

Reigning CESAFI Most Valuable Player Beirn Anthony Laurente finished with 10 points, Gabriel Cometa tallied nine markers and six assists, while Jhiey Paraldo scored nine on top of four rebounds and three assists for the Baby Lancers, who were in full command after sprinting to a 29-19 start.

Ahead 47-31 at halftime, the Baby Lancers kept their offensive fire burning in the third period to enjoy a comfortable 68-51 advantage going into the final 10 minutes of play.

Joshua Yerro finished with only eight points but pulled down a dozen rebounds, while Justin Jake Rosete, Ivan Maata and Jim Paul Amistoso also made significant contribution with 23 combined points for the Baby Lancers, who will shoot for their second win against Paco Citizen Academy Foundation (PCAF) at 3:45 pm today.

Regardless of the outcome of their match versus PCAF though, the Baby Lancers are already assured of a quarterfinal berth on December 19 against either the reigning UAAP champ Far Eastern University (FEU) Baby Tamaraws or the NCAA powerhouse San Beda College (SBC) Red Cubs.

Aside from the P50,000 cash bounty, the Baby Lancers coached by Gerald Ylaya also aim to become the first provincial team to win the championship of the annual high school league since its inception in 2012.