Lancers mangle Panthers in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines - Graduating forward Jerome Silva provided the leadership and the gangling 6-7 Nigerian Steve Cedrick Akomo provided the much-needed ceiling as nine-time champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers opened their campaign with a lopsided 86-63 win over University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Panthers in last night’s lone collegiate match of the 12th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) at the Cebu Coliseum.

Silva was very productive especially in the second half as he top scored with 21 points highlighted by three triples.

Akomo, who dwarfed his defenders with his lankly frame, added 17 points along with 13 rebounds and blocked five shots. Despite that, he complained of too much body slamming from the Panthers’ side that he was even warned late in the fourth period for second motion.

The results of the game was no longer an issue just at the start of the second period when the Lancers led by 18 points at halftime, 43-25, and then that lead ballooned to as many as 21 points, 68-47 early in the final quarter.

The only spoiler for last night’s rousing debut was the ejection of Hernal “Wowie” Escocio after he was whistled for two consecutive technical fouls in the final 2:09 of the ballgame when the victory was already in the bag.

He will also serve an automatic one-game suspension plus pay a minimum fine of Php5 thousand for his action.

Fritz Dajalos led the Panthers with 14 points while Earvin Ferraren had 11 points.

Earlier, the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors scored their second straight victory after taking a 96-85 decision over the smaller USPF Baby Panthers and took the temporary lead in the juniors division with a 2-0 win-loss card.

They had an eye-popping 120-54 victory in last Sunday’s season opener against the smaller University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR) Baby Jaguars.

The Baby Warriors were led by Jerd Nino Pillares with 26 points while it was Edwin Jhun Villarta who top scored for the Baby Panthers with 23 points. - THE FREEMAN