UV-UC rematch in CESAFI finals

CEBU, Philippines - Except for the 3-0 sweep in the semifinals which the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters accomplished for the first time in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), nothing has changed from last year’s finals picture as they are still pitted against nine-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the best-of-five finals series starting on Thursday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm UV vs. UC

6 pm USC vs. SWU

The Webmasters avenged their 79-82 loss to the Lancers in the elimination by scoring a 68-63 victory last Sunday. That game was controlled by the Webmasters almost all the way except in the third period where the Lancers staged an 11-0 run to take a 51-48 lead.

Despite the loss, the Lancers are lucky enough to return to the finals but this year’s entry proved to be a roller-coaster ride for them. Their 51-52 loss to the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras gave them a run for their dear life, making them treat all other semifinal games crucial.

Lucky indeed for the Lancers as anything can happen in basketball. The Lancers would have been eliminated for the first time should the margin of victory by the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors over the Cobras reached 12 points, but USC could only manage an 86-76 win.

UV’s loss put them into a triple tie with the Cobras and the Warriors but since they won by 11 points over the Warriors, they obtained the highest quotient.

Junemar Fajardo put all his defenders into foul trouble and led UC’s offense with 21 points.

John Michael Abad, the smallest in the Lancers’ roster, topscored for UV with 18 points, while Eman Calo and Ralf Olivares chipped in with 10 points apiece.

Earlier, Mark Gil Panerio scored 21 points to lead the Warriors, but missed a short jumper using the glass that could have given them the magic number 12 to advance into the finals against UC.

The scores

First game

USC (86) - Panerio 21, Hermosa 20, Padillo 20,    Codilla 10, Cantonao 5, Otida 5, Cortes 2, Uy 2

SWU (76) - Pacquiao 18, Armecin 16, Diango 16, Litorja 13, Maguate 10, Pria 2, Ortuyo 2

Second game

UC (68) - Fajardo 21, Bercede 10, Juliane 8, Ampoon 8, Mohammad 7, Heruela 7, Pao 6

UV (63) - Abad 18, Olivares 10, Calo 10, Lao 8, Cincoflores 5, Saycon 4, Mercader 4, Avillanoza 2, Silva 2 (FREEMAN)