TRIPLE GRANDSLAM: UV Lancers finish off UC in Game 4 to claim ninth straight CESAFI crown

CEBU, Philippines - It's all over. The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers formally knocked out the very game University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters with another convincing 75-62 victory in Game 4 to annex their all-time record to ninth consecutive title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) collegiate basketball last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers finished the best-of-five finals series at three games to one, thereby further galvaning their status at the mightiest amateur ballclub in this portion of the achipelago.

UV's resounding conquest of UC was more meaningful for Gregory Slaughter as the 6-foot-11 tower fulfilled his ultimate goal of leaving a championship legacy before bading farewell from his Lancers' family. Slaughter was doubly happy as he shared the coveted MVP trophy with his Webmasters counterpart in 6-foot-9 June Mar Fajardo.

They were joined into the elite Mythical Five by Chris Victor Diputado of UV, Moncrief Rogado of UC and Giovanni Padillo of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

Slaughter had his worst game of the season scoring only a paltry six points, but coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug's secret stepped up bigtime to topscore for the Lancers with 21 points spiked with three 3-pointers including a very long one just above the centerline that sparked a furious assault.

Calo was truly the man of the hour in UV's series-clinching victory as everytime he made a shot, the crowd responded with a thunderous applause.

The Lancers were so productive in the first period alone where they dropped five 3-point bombs, two each from Elmer Mykiel Cabahug and Harold Cincoflores and one from Ritchum Dennison. They then sank three more tomahawks to startle the Webmasters at halftime.

Cincoflores also made a huge contribution with 15 points followed by Dennison with 10.

"I'm just lucky enough to have won nine titles for UV. Hopefully, it will become 10 next year," said Cabahug while expressing his profound gratitude to the Gullas family for their all-out support in the comprehensive basketball program he institute for UV.

The Lancers led by as many as 20 points, 66-46, at the final 4:03 of the contest and th best UC could muster was to trim the deficit down to 10 points, 61-71, off a blistering 15-5 run. In that span, rookie Mark Tano hit three straight triples and ace point guard Kelvin Juliane completed two three-point plays but they still fell short of extending the series into its full route.

Just like Slaughter, Fajardo also had an off-night churning out a measly seven points. Rogado and Tano led UC's offensive charge with 25 points combined.

The scores

UV (75) - Calo 21, Cincoflores 15, Dennison 10, Slaughter 6, Cabahug 6, Lasala 4, Mercader 4, Olivares 4, Manigque 3, Diputado 2

UC (62) - Rogado 13, Tano 12, Juliane 9, Fajardo 7, Mohamad 7, Quilantang 5, Cayanong 4, Luceño 3 Halftime: 34-27     (FREEMAN NEWS)