Lancers book CESAFI finals

The mighty University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers knocked out last night fourth-ranked University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars, 89-76, and advanced to the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) finals for the sixth consecutive year at the Cebu Coliseum.

In the secondary match, topseed University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters also advanced into the finals after defeating the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 88-53.

Bot the top qualifiers for scoring a 6-0 win-loss card in the elimination, UV and UC will wait only for their respective rivals in the finals after the rubbermatch tentatively scheduled on Wednesday.

The Lancers will face the winnner of the UC-USC playoff while the Junior Webmasters take on the winner of the UV-USP contest in the best-of-three championship series.

Six foot-eight center Rino Berame lorded it over in the paint, sending his rivals into foul trouble even as the Lancers went on with an imposing second half to wear down the Jaguars.

Berame led the Lancers' offense with 21 points while Ritchum Dennison finished with 16 points.

Morsie Akad finished with 10 points.

Von Harry Lanete and Jayford Rodriguez had only eight points each but their intimidating presence brought plus factors for UV's offense because their too elusive to be guarded with.

Playing without relief center Manny Gabas, who was down with a flu, the Jaguars were led by their smallest man in the team in Armad Ponce, who had 16 points.

Bobby Hatague and Lyndon Gudez both finished with 10 points for the Jaguars who were relegated into playing for third place against the loser of the UC-USC rubbermatch.

Earlier, Billy Connors led the Webmasters with 23 points as they booked the first finals berth in the secondary division.

Robert Gones Codilla led the Baby Warriors with 13 points.

The scores

First Game: Secondary

UC (88) - Connors 23, Capoy 11, Rago 10, Mohamad 8, Enriquez 7, Panerio 7, Singson 5, Espinoa 5, Vence 4, Cuico 2, Ferrolino 2, Cabañero 2

USC (53) - Codilla 13, Delos Santos 7, Bercede 6, Otida 4, Omolon 4, Negapatan 4, Caumeran 3, Uy 2, Nadela 2, Gillamac 2, Saberon 2 Halftime: 43-26

Second Game: Collegiate

UV (89) - Berame 21, Dennison 16, Akad 10, Rodriguez 8, Lanete 8, Omolon 7, Esperat 4, Arda 4 Diputado 3, Sendrijas 3, Lasala 2, Manigque 2, Pepito 1

USJ-R (76) - Ponce 16, Gudez 10, Hatague 10, Malinao 9, Justiniani 8, Lozano 5, Delfino 5, Antigua 5, Villahermosa 4, Pogoy 2, Arpay 2 Halftime: 37-34