Lancers set up semifinal duel vs. Warriors

CEBU, Philippines - The PTT Fuels-UV Green Lancers bundled out Prime Asia Lending-DBTC Greywolves, 95-81, to set up a best-of-three semifinal showdown with erstwhile tormentor San Marino Corned Tuna-USC Warriors in the 4th CESAFI Partner’s Cup the other night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The other semis slot in the collegiate division will be contested by the fourth-seed Enervon C-UC Webmasters and the fifth-ranked Aerosol-USPF Panthers on Saturday, with the winner facing next the topseed Ave Maria Sanctuary Park-USJR Jaguars.

The Lancers were in complete command from start to finish except in the third period where they suferred an offensive meltdown, allowing the Bosconians to pull within just three points, 50-53, on a basket by Joseph Villaver.

Tension flared up at the height of the Greywolves’ furious rally which resulted into the ejection of DBTC big man Chris de la Rama for bullying Lancers’ pointguard Harold Cincoflores down under moments after Ralf Olivares gave UV a 56-50 lead.

De la Rama was caught trying to punch Cincoflores and was banished at the 3:45 mark of the third period. He claimed that UV’s alternate center Mark Anthony Manigque played very physical against him at the post but the irony was that he attacked Cincoflores instead.

Elmer Mykiel Cabahug led the Lancers with 13 points, while Olivares was the only other Lancer who finished in double figures with 10.

Celso Colegado, Jr. paced Don Bosco with 19 points, 16 in the final period. Vincent Casto and Jefford Aldave connived with 23 markers for the Greywolves, who are now headed into a timely summer vacation.

The scores

PTT-UV (95) - E. Cabahug 13, Olivares 10, Cincoflores 9, Saycon 9, Auditor 8, Silva 8, Perolino 7, Abad 4, Premacio 3, Mercader 3, Calo 2, Cabahug 2, Rios 2, Manigque 1, Señeres 1

 Prime Asia-DBTC (81) - Colegado 19, Castro 13, Aldave 10, Dela Rama 7, Villaver 6, Cinco 5, Cabrilles 5, Lumapas 4, Hernando 3, Espiritu 3, Tirado 2, Mabala 2, Tecson 1, Guba 1   (FREEMAN NEWS)