CESAFI semis begins today

CEBU, Philippines - Tournament topseeds University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles shift their respective title campaigns to higher gear as the semifinal round of the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season gets underway today at the Cebu Coliseum. Both teams swept their elimination round assignments.

The well-rested Lancers of coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. will go up against the fourth-ranked defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in the main match scheduled at 6:45pm. The Webmasters barely made it to the semis as they just escaped with a 77-76 win over the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors last week.

The Lancers are seeking no less than a repeat of their 86-80 conquest of the Webmasters during the classification phase.

To achieve that, the Lancers will again bank on their 6-foot-7 Nigerian recruit in Steve Cerdick Akomo along with the likes of Eman Calo, Rene Jun Saycon, Jerome Silva, Phil Mercader, Chris Perolino, and John Michael Abad.

The Webmasters, for their part, are expected to squeeze the most from Brian Heruela, three-point shootout champion Kim Gomez, Robinson Mohammad, Kido Cabrera, Kevin Quilantang, Jan Michael Auditor, Benick Sealana and Gil Wagas.

In the juniors division, the top-ranked Magis Eagles are aiming to duplicate their 71-61 whacking of the fifth seed Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons last August 10.

Led by the vastly improved Henric Dawn Ochea, the juniors All-Star MVP last Sunday, the Magis Eagles are loaded with a slew of talented players who are ready for the big semifinal battle in the mold of Arc Gabriel Araw-araw, Rendell Thomas Senining, Miguel Competente, Jair Igna,Fletcher Criss Galvez, Felixberto Jaboneta and Arnie Padilla.

The Dragons, who made a historic championship run two years ago, will rely on Alfons Alvizo, Michael Lorenzo Balankig, Manuel Grijaldo, Mark Vincent Berdera, Richmond Bulibuli, Kent Vincent Moral Dominic Yap and Julius David Zosa. (FREEMAN)