CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers closed their elimination round assignment with a 70-58 hacking of the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Panthers in last Tuesday's game of the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.
Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
5:15 pm USJ-R vs. SHS-AdC (jrs.)
6:45 pm SWUvs. UC (srs.)
Sporting a 9-3 win-loss record, the Lancers' fate will depend heavily on the outcome of the game between topseed and defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters against one of the leading contenders Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras.
The Lancers are rooting for the Webmasters this time so that a win over the Cobras in tonight's conclusion of the double round elimination would pave the way for them to secure the second semifinals berth and the twice-to-beat advantage.
The UV faithfuls are in unison in their hopes that the Cobras lose because if that happens, the latter will pick up their fourth loss and will be relegated into third place possibly with an 8-4 win-loss card.
In the high school division, the topseed UV Baby Lancers have the twice-to-beat incentive against the USPF Baby Panthers and second seed Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles should be beaten twice by no. 3 ranked Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons.
On October 16, the selected high school and collegiate players in the league will be showing their antics during the annual Light vs. Dark CESAFI All-Star Games with side events such as the 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest.
The Lancers put their acts together in the fourth period to keep abreast and controlled the tempo of the game from thereon after taking a 60-48 lead. The biggest lead though stood at 16 points, 68-52, inside the three-minute mark of the fourth period.
Edrian Lao had 19 points to lead the Lancers while rookies Perolino and Junnard Premacio added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
The scores
UV (70) - Lao 19, Perolino 14, Premacio 12, Silva 9, Cincoflores 6, Mendoza 5, Oktobre 3, Abad 2
USPF (58) - Linao 16, Dajalos 14, Sedurifa 9, Sollano 6, Camello 4, Fuentes 3, J. Ferraren 2, Meca 2, Misa 1, Corcilles 1 Halftime: 36-30. - THE FREEMAN