UC jrs. go for clincher, UV fights for life

(Cebu Coliseum) Game 2, Finals 6:00 p.m. UV vs UC (jrs.)

The University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters will go for the jugular but they must prepare themselves for a dogfight as they collide anew with the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers in Game 2 of the best-of-three juniors division finals of the 18th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum tonight. Game time is set at 6 pm. The Junior Webmasters moved a win away from clinching their first championship in a decade after stunning the Baby Lancers, 88-84, in the series opener last Wednesday night.

It was no less a great escape by the Junior Webmasters, who trailed by seven points underneath the final two-minute of the contest.

Still down by two, 8284, with 30 seconds left to play, Jasper Pacaña capped his game-long brilliance with the go-ahead 3-pointer before James Basallo scored on a breakaway layup to push the Webmasters on top, 87-84, with 8.8 ticks remaining in the game clock.

The Baby Lancers had a chance to forge an overtime, but Gabriel Cometa’s triple was way off the mark.

Aside from drawing stellar performances from Pacaña, Isaiah Blanco, Jerick Ranido, James Incio and Jushoa Gellacone on both ends of the court, the Junior Webmasters were also a bit fortunate as the Baby Lancers were without reigning Juniors MVP Beirn Anthony Laurente who is on sickbay with chicken pox and All-Star forward Mar Leandro Actub suited up despite battling fever.

In Laurente’s absence, Joshua Yerro was absolutely sensational, posting a tripledouble topped by an eyepopping 30 rebounds along with 15 points and 10 assists.

Cometa was also impressive with 22 points but a spate of crucial errors towards the end of the nervewracking match spelled UV’s doom.

Knowing UV’s fighting spirit though, the Junior Webmasters must brace for an all-out war as they bring their battle to a new level.