The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers won their seventh consecutive CESAFI college basketball title with a convincing 82-71, victory over the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in last night’s Game 5 at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Green Lancers made sure their names would be on the history books as early as the second quarter when they zoomed to a 40-18 halftime lead.
UV used a different strategy in Game 5 by inserting rookie Sylvester Tancongco in the starting lineup. The ploy worked wonders for UV as Tancongco scored 12 points for the Green Lancers.
UV got USC in trouble by employing a sticky defense on Enrico Llanto. Bonifer Sendrijas had the enviable task of shadowing the league’s MVP and he made things miserable for him. Despite scoring 12 points, Llanto was obviously bothered by the defense put on him as he couldn’t execute the plays called out by coach Jay Ramirez.
“The bottom line was that we were able to stop Llanto and he (Sendrijas) deserved credit for that and all praises to Tancongco as well who carried the team and delivered when his services where needed most,” said jubilant UV coach Boy Cabahug.
Cabahug dedicated the win to UV President and Cebu 1st District Representative Eduardo R. Gullas who celebrated his birthday yesterday.
With his partner unable to make his moves, Ramirez tried to rescue USC but he too couldn’t find a whole in the suffocating UV defense.
So, when the duo sank, USC sank with them as well.
“Na-unhan lang mi nila ug dugay mi naka-adjust,” (“They jumped the gun on us and it took us a while to adjust.”) explained USC coach Jay Ramirez.
USC finished runner-up for the second straight time. The Warriors of Jay Ramirez, however, have nothing to be ashamed of They can hold their heads high despite the loss because they have shown they can be a potent force and the two wins against UV are a testament to that.
Too bad, they were unable to deliver in the game that mattered most.
Diputado led all scorers with 22 points. Mepana contributed 13 points, Tancongco had 12, Dennison scored 11 and Villanil netted 10 for UV.
Ramirez was USC’s main man with 16 points while Llanto and Hermosa scored 12 points apiece.
The scores:
UV (SRS) 82 – Diputado 22, Mepana 13, Tancongco 12, Dennison 11, Villanil 10, Luga 6, Sendrijas 5, Berame 3
USC (SRS) 71 – Ramirez 16, Llanto 12, Hermosa 12, Padayao 9, Padillo 7, Joven 5, Lazalita 4, Igao 3, Ferraren 2
Halftime: 40-18
HOW THE SERIES WENT:
Game 1 USC 69 UV 61
Game 2 UV 94 USC 75
Game 3 UV 80 USC 68
Game 4 USC 80 UV 77
Game 5 UV 82 USC 71