CESAFI Basketball: Lancers survive scare

The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars played excellent game for nearly 40 minutes but they failed to upstaged the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 92-88, in an exciting and well-attended main match of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball event at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Jaguars relied on speed and quickness to outrun the Green Lancers, knowing they cannot match the Lancer's heft and height should they opted to organize their play well.

A lady luck was smiling on the Jagaurs because after trailing by nine points in the third period, 70-61, the largest UV could muster, they slowly came back by way of hustling the Lancers' ball carriers, ending the third period with only a five-point deficit, 67-72.

The Jaguars, then greeted the fourth period with a 9-0 run anchored by Ariel Lozano and a cluster of points from Luther Luje Justiniani and Ryan Arpay to grab the lead, 75-74, still 7:28 left in the ballgame.

Both teams were at the nip-and-tuck battle going into the closing minutes of the fourth period but after Manny Gabas tied the count for the eighth time at 88-all, still 1:10 to go, the Lancers popped out from their shell and playing with pride to protect, made the Jaguars pay for their own miscues.

After Berame was whistled for an offensive foul against Gabas at the 1:04 mark of the final period, the Jaguars missed and in the return play, Von Harry Lanete gave the Lancers the upperhand for the last time on a tipsy-do drive into the middle, 90-88 still 20.2 seconds.

Now with 5-0 win-loss record and 53-1overall in their five-year dynasty in the CESAFI, the Lancers could gain another victory on Wednesday when they battle against the 3-1 University of Southern Philippines-Foundation Panthers at the latter's bailiwick at the USP-Lahug gym.

Berame managed to score 19 points to lead the Lancers' offense while Akad who was having an excellent first half, chipped in 17 points even as Jezar Esperat and rookie guard Ritchum Dennison had 14 points each for UV.

Ariel Lozano carried the offensive load for the Jaguars in the second half using his experience to finish with 12 points behind Justiniani's game-high 23 points and Bobby Hatague's 15 markers.

Earlier, Cebu Institute of Technology finally nailed their first win in four games at the expense of an all-rookie team Don Bosco College but not without a scare losing a 25-point point lead, 52-27, to just four points, 90-86, for the final count.

In the secondary matches, the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters defeated the UV Baby Lancers, 82-73, for their fourth straight victory to tie with idle USP Baby Panthers at the top spot while the Baby Jaguars saved the day for USJ-R by pulling off with a 68-58 win over Don Bosco also for their first win in four games.

With the Baby Jaguars victory and CIT's win, only Don Bosco College has not yet tasted a victory in the collegiate division with 0-4 win-loss record and the Cebu Doctors University in the women's divison with 0-3 win-loss record.

The scores

First Game: Secondary

UC (82) - Panerio 20, Mohammad 14, Capoy 11, Rago 6, Enriquez 5, Connors 4, Espinosa 3, Cabanero 3, Ferrolino 2, Babao 2, Sargo 2

UV (73) - Camay 19, Lao 18, Mercader 13, Lacno 7, Sagmon 6, Lacuna 4, Malagar 4, Premacio 2, Gonzaga 2

Second Game: Secondary

USJR (68) - Villarin 12, Simporios 9,Trillo 9, Rentuza 7, Unabia 5, Santos 5, Ponsica 4, Critan 4, Corominas 4, Heredia 2, Cabanes 1

Don Bosco (58) - Lapitan 15, Malicden 14,Tesaluna 12, Mellana 5, Dela Torre 5, Gorreon 5, Parilla 2, Tan 2, Rodriguez 1

Third Game: Collegiate

CIT (90) - A. Reyes 17, Guevarra 15, Lumongsud 15, Montealto 12, Regis 8, Abapo 7, Molero 6, Villarba 5, Aniñon 3, Adlawan 2, Abatayo 2, Capaning 2

Don Bosco (86) - Mabano 17, Aldave 15, Abarquez 11, Sunga 10, Colegado 9, Litorja 5, Vargas 5, Del Rosario 4, Villaver 1 Haltime: 56-40

Fourth Game Collegiate:

UV (92) - Berame 19, Akad 17, Esperat 14, Dennsion 14, Lanete 8, Diputado 7, Sendrijas 5, Rodriguez 4, Lasala 2, Omolon 2, Arda 2

USJR (88) - Justiniani 23, Hatague 15, Lozano 12, Malinao 8, Ponce 6, Arpay 6, Gabas 5, Carilla 3, Villahermosa 3, Pogoy 2, Gudez 2 Halftime: 43-47