CEBU, Philippines - The Laniors, a team composed of former University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers and University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, overpowered the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-sponsored X-Men, 21-17, in the final to become the first ever Visayas regional champion of the Clear Men Future Basketball League yesterday at the old Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) gym along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, this city.
It was indeed a fairytale finish for the Vernini Tangarorang-skippered Laniors, who lost their first two games by default.
The Laniors, flashing an admirable never-say-surrender spirit, won their succeeding games until they barged into the championship round.
In the final, the Laniors were in full command from the start and the best X-Men of coach Edito Salacut could muster was to pull within two points, 9-11.
And with ex-UV players Michael Luga and Jay-Ar Esperat joining the fray in the second half of the 20-minute encounter, there was no stopping for the Laniors to take home the P100,000 champion’s purse.
The other members of the Laniors were Carlo Padayao,Vincent Canoy and Joven Cortes.
Despite the loss, the X-Men still has something to look forward to because aside from pocketing P50,000, they will also join the Laniors in the national finals next month in Manila.
In the battle for third place, Ave Maria Sanctuary Park Team B slammed the ACT Quickshoppe, 31-20. –Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)