Kazan summer universiade: UV Lancers all set for Russia caging

CEBU, Philippines - With pride in their hearts, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers are all primed and ready to represent the Philippines in men's basketball of the 27th Summer Universiade set on July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia.

"It's an honor for UV to represent not only the school, not only Cebu, but the whole nation in the Universiade. As much as possible, we will give out best to do well in the tournament," said UV Lancers team manager Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas, Jr. in a press conference yesterday.

"The whole thing is not about winning. What matters most is the experience we get from playing against foreign teams," added Gullas, who is also the school's assistant vice president for finance and administration.

The UV Lancers, record-holder for their ninth straight championship in the Cebu Schools Athletics Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI), earned the right to carry the country's colors in the multi-event gathering after winning the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC) last March in Bukidnon.

With over a thousand competitors from close to 200 nations, the biennial sports conclave is considered as the Olympics of the top university atheletes all over the globe.

"Winning there is only secondary because the competition is very tough," said Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines (FESSAP) executive director Henry Liao. "But we make it sure that our country will be repersented well that is why we designated UV knowing that is has the tradition of producing top caliber players through the years."

FESSAP, a privately funded organization, is the country's only university sports federation that is recognized by the International University Sports Federation, which sanctions the Summer and Winter Universiades.

Liao said FESSA will be FIELDING at least 70 athletes from various disciplines. Aside from the Lancers, the other Cebuano athletes who will form part of Team Philippines are Jerny Kaye Pepito and Val Stephen Rojas of the University of Cebu (UC) in table tennis and Kelly Kaye Rojas of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) in weightlifting.

For basketball, the Lancers brace for an uphill battle, more so that they are bracketed together with two-time defending champion Serbia, Romania, Mexico, Mongolia and Japan.

"It's a big challenge for us to compete against the best university players in the world," said Lancers head coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr.

"We'll just give our best to put up a good challenge against our opponents. It's going to be a difficult task for us ahead. The good thing about it is that the the exposure we gain will surely help us in our future tournament," added Belano, who etched his name in stone when he was still a pro cager for becoming the first and only Filipino player to record a quadruple-double in a single game.

"We're very proud and excited to fight for the flag and country in the Universiade. It's a very good exposure for us that we get a chance to showcase our skills against foreign players. Hopefully we can build up our team chemistry out there," said UV skipper Chris Perolino.

This marks for the second consecutive time a Cebu ballclub will don Phl's colors in the Universiade. The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters bannered the country's campaign when the Games were held in China two years ago. (FREEMAN)