Lancers bask in grandslam glory
Mission accomplished for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers.
The Lancers held off the University of San JoseRecoletos (USJ-R) to only two points in the final seven minutes of the contest on the way to finish off the Jaguars, 74-61, in the deciding match of their best-ofthree finals series and fulfill their grandslam dream in the 18 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Season Most Valuable Player Rey Anthony Suerte sizzled with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, Jafet Claridad had 12 points on a 4-of-9 sniping from the 3-point land while Liberian import Bassieru Sackor had a doubledouble show of 14 points and 14 rebounds as the Lancers repeat as champions since 2016 for a rare three-peat.
"This is a sweet victory for us," said a teary-eyed UV coach Gary Cortes, who hugged each one if his players after their monumental win. "We've been through so many trials, and yet we are able to pull it off. I am proud of my boys. They gave their all and played with their hearts out in this most crucial game of our campaign."
The Lancers, who also drew 11 points and eight rebounds fron Jancork Cabahug, raced to a 6-0 start and at one point led by 13 points, 29-16, but the Jaguars fired back with 12-4 run to chop the deficit down to only five points, 28-33, with only 29 seconds left in the second quarter.
A buzzer-beating triple by Jafet Claridad, however, pushed UV's lead back to eight entering the locker room, 28-36.
The Lancers reinstalled a double-digit lead at 49-36, but Fletcher Galvez sparked a 12-1 blitz to pull the Jaguars within just two, 48-50, with 1:50 to go in the third canto.
The Jaguars rallied further to tie the count at 59-all on backto-back hits by Jaybie Mantilla at the final 7:09 mark of the contest but Claridad played the fireman's role, burying two long-range cruise missiles from beyond the arc in an 9-0 swing that towed the Lancers to a 68-59 advantage with only 3:24 left to play.
USJ-R's comeback hopes was detailed when Mantilla fouled out in the last 5:26 of play. He finished with only 11 points.
After Nicole Ubalde ended USJ-R's five-minute scoring drought, Rey Anthony Suerte sank a booming 3-pointer then hit a close-range shot before Ted Saga split his charities to virtually seal UV's triumph, 74-61, with only 18 seconds remaining in the match.
Segamars Ewenike, Fletcher Galvez and Nicole Ubalde all finished with 12 points for the Jaguars who faltered in their bid of winning their first ever CESAFI title.