UV wins another thriller

Lancers tame Cobras a new to close in on CESAFI cage crown

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers valiantly wiped out an 11-point deficit and then made a strong finishing kick to fluster the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 69-65, and take a pivotal 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series for the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) collegiate basketball crown last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers could practically wrap up the title with another win in tomorrow’s Game 4 although the Cobras are expected to wage an all-out war with hopes of forcing a rubbermatch.

It was another sorry loss for the Cobras, who led by as much as 11 points, 46-35, on a monster slam by Benoit M’bala at the 3:58 mark of the third period.

Showing the stuff that made them nine-time champions, the Lancers crept back with finesse to eventually wrest the driver’s seat, 51-50, on a undergoal stab by Jerome Silva early in the final quarter.

Moments later, UV’s 6-foot-7 Nigerian recruit Steve Cedrick Akomo converted back-to-back hits as the Lancers gained a five-point headway, 55-50, with still 8:13 left to play.

The Cobras pulled within just a hairline, 65-66, but Akomo sank two free throws to give the Lancers a shaky 68-65 lead with less than a minute to go.

The Lancers nearly flirted with disaster when Akomo was whistled for a technical foul for resenting a call while defending Justine Aboude with only 17.4 seconds left to play.

Fortunately for UV and its large throng of spectators, the Cobras cannot make the most from the opportunity. A foul-troubled SWU pointguard Benito Ortuyo mangled his charities and Aboude also muffed his technical free throws.

After going 0-4 from the line in that instance, the Cobras still had the chance to at least send the game into overtime, but they couldn’t make one good offensive in their last possession.

Eman Calo, who fouled out in the game, paced the Lancers with 14 points. Silva added 13 points, while Akomo and Phil Mercader chipped in 10 markers apiece.

Mbala and Bernie Bregondo finished with 11 points each for SWU, while Joseph Nalos and Bonifacio Guillena III scored 10 each. The missing link for the Cobras was Monbert Arong, who was held scoreless in the entire 40-minute skirmish.

The scores

UV (69) - Calo 14, Silva 13, Akomo 10, Mercader 10, Escocio 8, Abad 7, Perolino 7

SWU (65) - Bregondo 11, Mbala 11, Nalos 10, Guillena 10, Ortuyo 5, Goloran 2

Halftime: 32-33. (FREEMAN)