UV struggles in win vs USC

CEBU, Philippines - Eight-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers notched their second straight victory but had to go through a roller-coaster ride before getting rid of the resilient University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 85-78, in the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm DBTC vs. UC (Jrs.)

6 pm DBTC vs. UC (Srs.)

The Warriors, who figured in a championship showdown with the Lancers for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007, were down by a dozen points early on, 9-21, but went on to grab the driver’s seat at the intermission, 35-33.

The Lancers, however, pounded on the Warriors with finesse in the third period. In that daring breakaway, guards Harold Cincoflores and Eman Calo scored seven points each, while 6-foot-11 Fil-Am Gregory Slaughter added six markers as UV mounted its biggest lead of 15 points, 61-46,.

A slight hardcourt drama occured when USC’s Sam Jordan Hermosa was whistled for a technical foul for a hard push against Calo with 3:05 left to play and UV leading by 13 points, 74-61. Proverbial cooler heads succeeded in putting the situation under control.

All of a sudden, the diehard Warriors put up a courageous fightback, with Giovanni Padillo sinking three consecutive triples and Joven Cid Cortes and Hermosa scoring two quick baskets to chop the deficit down to a manageable four points, 74-78.

That was the closest the Warriors could come though as the spirited Lancers did not wilt under heavy pressure.

Slaughter pumped in 29 points capped by a monster slam for the Lancers. Junjun Lasala, Chris Victor Diputado and Phil Mercader connived for 35 points as they bettered their win-loss record to 2-1.

Padillo and Cortes nailed 15 markers apiece, while Ryan Carlo Padayao added 10 for the Warriors, who joined the DBTC Greywolves down the cellar without win in two starts.

In the other collegiate match, the SWU Cobras snapped out of their two-game losing skid with a 92-78 demolition of the Greywolves.

In the secondary games, the Baby Lancers also struggled against the listless USPF Baby Panthers, 87-82, to take the solo lead with a clean 3-0 slate, while the CIT Wildkittens demolished the USC Baby Warriors, 80-52.

The scores

First game

SWU (92) - Pria 17, Gallarde 12, Pacquiao 11, Litorja 9, Jalandoni 8, Diango 7, Armecin 6, Palileo 6, Poligrates 4, Ompad 3, Barro 3, Wagas 2

DBTC (78) - Colegado 17, Hernando 12, Delos Santos 11, Cabrilles 10, Villaver 7, Aldave 6, Georsua 6, Cinco 4, Castro 2, Cabañero 1 Halftime: 43-39

 Second game

UV (85) - Slaughter 29, Lasala 13, Diputado 12, Mercader 10, Cincoflores 7, Calo 7, Olivares 5, Dennison 2

USC (78) - Padillo 15, Cortes 15, Padayao 10, Cantonao 8, Hermosa 7, Codilla 6, Bautista 6, Gallarde 6, Bakker 2

Halftime: 33-35    (THE FREEMAN)