Current Lancers to face 1996 UV champion team

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayanian community will get to enjoy a rare basketball treat as the present crop of Green Lancers will strut their hoop skills against the 1996 University of the Visayas (UV) champion team in a goodwill match today at the school's gym. Game time is set at 3 pm.

The young guns of UV are currently the front-runner of the 6th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Partner's Cup with an immaculate 5-0 record, but they are in for a tough grind for sure against the multi-titled UV squad of 1996 that swept all major tournaments it joined that year including the National Inter-Collegiate Championships, Philippine National Games (PNG), Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) and the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (now the CESAFI).

Then guided by the coaching brilliance of Jerry Aratan, the decorated 1996 UV Green Lancers are composed of Gary Cortes (team captain), Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr., Rey Cantona, Roi Lura, Deocar Zapansa, Dindon Gono, Augustus Abelarde, Rene Toring, Jurie Violango, Aldrin Ocañada, Kid Tubaon, Gabriel "No Fear" Maloloy-on, Stephen Padilla and Selwyn Wagwag.

Belano, the current head coach of the UV Lancers, gained distinction as the first Filipino cager to score a quadruple-double when he played for the Davao Eagles in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) a decade ago. He also had a stint in the PBA where he was nicknamed "Felix the Cat" owing to his cat-quick moves.

Like Belano, Padilla also saw action in the pro league with the Alaska Aces and Air 21 Express. He is currently playing for the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala in the commercial circuit.

The old guards of UV will go up against the current Lancers crew manned by John Abad, Wowie Escocio, Eman Calo, Phil Mercader, Vincent Mendoza, Francisco Arong, Rene Jun Saycon, Andrew Avillanoza, Chris Perolino, Mark Provido, Wowie Kadir and Raffy Oktubre. (FREEMAN)