UV LOSES IMPORT BUT STILL BEATS UC
UV loses Lassina Coulibaly to injury but wins Game 1, eyes sweep today
Despite losing African import Lassina Coulibaly to an injury and an off night by former MVP Rey Suerte, University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers managed to take Game 1 of the best-of-three college division finals of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partner’s Cup with a convincing 78-60 victory over University of Cebu (UC)-M. Lhuillier Webmasters last Sunday night in the Cebu Coliseum.
Colulibaly, who failed to score a single point, dropped to the floor, wincing in pain after posting up UC’s import Frederick Elombi with well over three minutes on the clock in the opening quarter. Coulibaly was assisted by his teammates off the floor. A possible patellar dislocation of his right knee is being checked.
Though Coulibaly is an integral part of UV’s offense and defense in this tournament because of his sheer size and skill, the Green Lancers’ big men stepped up.
Michael Maestre, Ted Saga, Jessiel Tarrosa and Melvin Butohan took turns in defending Elombi and did a spectacular job by limiting him to just five points.
Suerte, on the other hand, was nowhere near his usual dominant self and scored just six points. But Joshue Segumpan stepped up to the plate and led UV in scoring with 22 points, hitting six three-pointers. Three other UV players were also in double digits; Sheldon Gahi had 14. /