Calm before the storm
University of San Carlos Warriors go for the kill against the University of the Visayas Green Lancers tonight when they clash in Game 4 of their best-of-five collegiate division finals in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Time is ticking for the Warriors who are bidding for their first ever collegiate title and with a 2-1 series edge the Lancers, they could wrap it up in tonight.
USC scored a crucial Game 3 win, 87-76, last Thursday night, but UV will surely give it all their best to force a sudden death.
Seeking their first title since 1958, the Warriors are now about 40 minutes of playing excellent basketball to achieve it to end a 57-year title drought that is perhaps the longest by any collegiate team in Philippine basketball history.
Warriors coach Britt Reroma is confident of giving the Warriors their first title after five decades of waiting. If he succeeds, he could be the second Warriors coach to win a championship next to the late Juan "Dodong" Aquino, Sr.
"Yes, it is our goal to give USC their first title after 57 years. We need to work hard on both ends come Game 4. We need to be consistent on defensive end and need to execute on their offense," said Reroma.
But for his part, UV coach Gary Cortes is still positive that they can bounce back tonight and keep their hopes alive in snaring their 11th CESAFI title in 15 years.
To make it possible, the Lancers would rely on their huge advantage and that is their championship experience.
The most exciting match-up in this series is evidently between the two imports in Shooster Olago of the Warriors and Steve Cedrick Akomo of the Lancers, but Olago dominated Game 3 with his 32-point performance compared to the latter’s nine points.
The Lancers may have the edge at the backcourt behind the tandem of June Kent Manzo and veteran Alfred Codilla but the snipers for the Warriors are hurting the Lancers in the likes of Ian Jefferson Tagapan, Victor Rabat, Nico Magat and Ian Ortega.
USC also has Charles Pepito, a workhorse in the low post and rebounding.