A Blue Green CESAFI Finals

Do blue and green mix (and maybe match)? We’re seeing a lot of that for the past week at the CESAFI Finals for both college and high school basketball. In the college division finals between defending champion University of the Visayas and the University of Cebu, the best-of-three series is tied, 1-all, with the deciding game to be played at 4 p.m. today at the Cebu Coliseum. The high school series ended, with UV taking the championship, 2-0, over defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

The college finals series has turned into an exciting and close run that has brought out a few surprises amidst the intense basketball action. While UC (in blue) stunned everyone by taking Game One, 72-67, last Wednesday, the UV Green Lancers bounced back to take Game Two Friday night, 77-66, before a good-size crowd which filled up both the lower and upper box sections. The surprise so far has been UC winning Game One. Fans were expecting the top seeded UV side to easily handle UC, but as always, Coach Yayoy Alcoseba had something up his sleeve. UC caught UV flat-footed and controlled the game from the get go by going up-tempo, attacking the basket and

running at every opportunity. UV managed to rally but UC’s momentum and drive was too much to overcome. Frederick Elombi proved why he is the league’s best import and showed his vast improvement from Day One of the league. UC showed more energy, hustle and hunger in Game One and was rewarded for all these. Was it a case of complacency on UV’s side? Maybe, but things turned different in Game Two which was even more exciting than Game One. It was a see-saw of a game with UV taking control at the start (21-13, end of first quarter) before UC rallied and take a 36-31 lead at halftime. But the complexion of the game changed when UC’s Justine Dacalos fouled out at the five minute mark of the third quarter while UV was catching up. Dacalos is the acknowledged floor leader of the team and his loss took its toll on the team. The Lancers took advantage of the situation to regain control of the game (54-51, end of third quarter) and take the win. The key for the UV win was the balanced attack among the team’s key players. UV doesn’t have a single superstar who stands out, but wins games when their leaders play as a unit. And this they did when Rey Suerte, Jerome Napao, Monic Soliva, Tristan Albina, Bassieru Sackor, Sheldon Gahi and Toto Segumpan played unselfish basketball. Yes, I had to mention all their names because they performed well as a single unit. This is UV’s biggest edge over UC. They must lean on solid team effort to overcome UC. If one of them decides to stray and go on his own, UV is in trouble. On the other side, UC lives and dies with Elombi and Dacalos, with everyone else playing support roles. This was evident when Dacalos fouled out in Game Two and Elombi suddenly lost his touch in the second half after shooting well in the first. He must have been so tired that he even missed a gimme dunk and was blocked on his way up for a shot. While this Mutt-and-Jeff pair is needed to click for UC to win, the extra help from guys like Garex Puerto, John Jabello, Ruben Ludovice, Joren Tagudin and Michael Gonzaga are crucial. When they all also play well like they did in Game One, UV is in for a dogfight.

Game Three today will be a case of which team and coach can impose its will consistently throughout the game. UV’s deeper

bench and championship experience gives them the edge, but I’m sure the UC coaching staff will find a way to negate this. From a basketball perspective, UV should repeat as champions with their deeper bench, experience and cohesion. If they share the ball, be patient and every player does his share, they should be fine. But from an ouf-of-the-box scenario, UC can’t be counted out due to the presence of Coach Yayoy Alcoseba and Elombi. What ploy will Coach Yayoy think of this time, or will he apply the same game plan? Will the other players step up like they did in Game One? See you at the Cebu Coliseum later.

UV is looking for a CESAFI double after the Baby Lancers won the high school title, Flashing their athleticism, UV swept the series, 2-0, and dethroned the four-time defending champions. It was another case of all their key players stepping up big time and never giving up whenever SHS-Ateneo threatened. Both games had the same pattern with UV controlling the match before the Magis Eagles rallied to keep the game close. But UV switched to high gear in the end game to win both games and win the championship that they last won in 2011. Beirn Luarente and Jim Paul Amisotoso gave SHS-Ateneo serious headaches in the back court. Joshua Yerro was Spiderman-like with his rebounds, defense and three-point shooting. JJ Rosete dominated the low post while Jhiey Paraldo’s defense, rebounding and clutch shooting have been heartbreakers. And how can we forget Froiland Maglasang’s threepoint shooting when it counts most? All these were on target at the right time all the time, while the same can’t be said about the Magis Eagles. The undermanned blue side will be left with a case of “What ifs?” What if Andrew Velasco didn’t break his leg earlier in the season? What if Jed Colonia had completely recovered from surgery on his torn ACL? What if they made all those free throws? When the dust cleared, the more superior team swept the entire field for the entire season: Both elimination round and the playoffs.

Will we see a CESAFI double for UV? Or will it be blue and green?