62nd National Students’ Basketball Championships: UV, SWU set up all-Cebu final

Tournament heavyweights University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras scored nerve-tingling victories over separate foes last night to set up an all-Cebu finale of the 62nd National Students Basketball Championships at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

For third

1:30 pm UV vs. UP (Jrs.)

3:00 pm USC vs. UL (Srs.)

Championship

4:30 pm PCC vs. BIS (Jrs.)

6:00 pm UV vs. SWU (Srs.)

Bull-strong forward Michael Luga flashed an indefatigable fighting spirit as the UV Lancers survived a double overtime scare against the big-hearted University of San Carlos (UWS) Warriors, 100-98, while the SWU Cobras scraped through a 98-94 victory over a gritty challenger from the University of Luzon.

UV and SWU are set to rekindle their storied rivalry as they go up against each for the championship of the week-long tilt organized by Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)-7 director Lorenzo “Chao” Sy. Gametime is set at 6 pm.

The last time they clashed in the National Inter-Collegiate finals, Southwestern, then coached by Eddie B. Ybañez assisted by the present Cobras mentor Alejandrito “Dodie” Miego, frustrated the UV Lancers to rule the 1996 edition of the annual event here in Cebu.

UV’s path to the finals wasn’t easy as the Carolinians showed why they’re called Warriors.

With the score stood at 76-all with 28 seconds left In the regulation period, USC could have won the match but Enrico Llanto lost handle of the ball. In the ensuing sequence, Chris Victor Diputado missed a short jumper, thus, sending the game into the first overtime.

Victory appeared to be in the bag of the UV Lancers when they took an 89-86 edge on Ritchum Dennison’s two free throws with just 2.2 seconds left.

With time running out, Llanto at the inbound made a baseball pitch to Giovannie Padillo, who then cool sank a buzzer-beating triple to force another extension.

USC even enjoyed a 94-92 lead early in the second overtime, but UV made a 6-0 blitz to zoom ahead for good, 98-94, with 1:19 remaining.

USC threatened for the last time at 98-100 on Paul Joven’s freebies with 28.2 ticks to go. After UV failed to convert in its possession, the Warriors had one more chance to pull an upset but failed as Joven threw a desperate shot at the halfcourt that went airball.

Michael Luga topped UV with 30 points, 14 in two overtimes.

Alfred Belande, on the other hand, showed the way for the Cobras with 26 points. His booming triple underneath the final one-minute mark of the contest sealed UL’s doom.

In the secondary division, Pilgrim Christian College (PCC) of Cagayan de Oro City and Benedict International School of Quezon City will slug it out for the title.

PCC beat the UV Baby Lancers, 95-82, while BIS stomped on University of Pangasinan, 84-77.

The scores

First game

SWU (98) - Belande 26, Maguate 14, Poligrates 14, Zanoria 12, Armecin 8, Ceniza 8, Djnago 6, Jalandoni 4, Gianchiand 3, Litorja 3.

UL (94) - Gubo 26, Notavio 24, Macalabad 18, Ilao 10, Panunciar 9, Franada 4, Flores 3

Second game

UV (100)- Luga 30, Calo 12, Lanete 12, Tantongco 8, Diputado 7, Lao 7, Berami 7, Dennison 5, Mepana 5, Sendrijas 4, Lasala 2

 USC (98)- Ramirez 27, Llamto 16, Padillo 14, Cortes 11, Hermosa 10, Blanes 5, Bautista 3, Joven 2, Igao 2, Gallarde 1