CESAFI men's basketball V deals UC first defeat

CEBU, Philippines - Spunky playmaker John Michael Abad scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers vanquished the University of Cebu (UC), 74-69, putting dirt to the Webmasters' erstwhile unblemished 9-0 record in the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

5:15 pm UC vs. UV (jrs.)

6:45 pm USPF vs. USJ-R (srs.)

Top center Adrian Lao, who also charted 10 markers in the final canto, initiated the Lancers' big run as he wisely recognized that UC's 6-foot-9 center Junemar Fajardo is no longer a defensive asset after committing four fouls.

Lao courageously took shots from the perimeter so that Fajardo will step out of his comfort zone at the post where he is a ferocious defender and scorer at the same time.

The Lancers led in the entire fourth period. After a high-arching jump shot by Andrew Avillanoza that gave them a 47-46 edge, Lao scored six straight points to pad their lead to 58-52 with still 5:50 left to play.

A steal by Abad marked the final breakaway for the Lancers, who enjoyed as much as 11 points lead, 63-52, with 5:15 to go.

John Michael Auditor hit back-to-back triples as the Webmasters came within five, 58-63. They further threatened at 63-65 going into the last two-minute zone, but the Lancers fought with grace under fire to halt UC's previousy unbeaten streak.

Lao topscored for the Lancers with 18 points, while Harold Cincoflores added 17 as they improved their win-loss record to 6-2.

Fajardo led the 9-1 Webmasters with 22 points, while Auditor, a former Baby Lancer, finished with 17. The missing link was top gunner Robinson Mohammad, who was held off to a measly four points due to the Lancers' stifling defense.

Neither Pao nor Luigi Bercede could go out of his way as they have limited outputs combining for only 16 points.

In the high school matches, the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors escaped past the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 90-88, while the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles shoot down the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 88-72.

The other highlight of the day was the 38-point rout by the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons against the UC Junior Webmasters, 101-63.

The scores

UV (74) - Lao 18, Cincoflores 17, Abad 14, Silva 9, Avillanoza 9, Rios 4, Mercader 2, Saycon 1

UC (69) - Fajardo 22, Auditor 17, Bercede 9, Heruela 8, Pao 7, Mohammad 4, Batino 2 Halftime: 28-25 (FREEMAN)