Lancers, Jaguars battle for solo lead in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, both coming off a season-opening wins in completely different manner, gun for the temporar y lead as they clash head-on today in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.

While the Lancers won by forfeiture over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University after CESAFI commissioner Felix ‘Boy’ O. Tiukinhoy Jr. cancelled CIT-U’s games in both college and high school divisions for failing to submit on time the ECG medical certificates of its players, the Jaguars had to sweat it out before crushing the University of Cebu Webmasters, 85-68.

With the returning Nigerian cager Steve Cedrick Akomo in tow, the Lancers are the odds-on favorite against the Jaguars, who will be playing without a foreign reinforcement this time.

The exciting sidelight of the match, however, is the showdown between USJ-R’s veteran coach Jun Noel and UV’s rookie mentor Gary Cortes. Interestingly, their first names are perhaps taken from the Almanac of Filipino names during the olden days. Jun Noel’s first name is Agripino, while Cortes had been christened ‘Olegario.’ 

Noel is already an established bench tactician in the commercial and pro circuit during the glory days of the Negros Slashers where they broke many time the hearts of the Cebu Gems in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association.

Cortes, for his part, is a champion player from his beloved alma matter, but he still has a lot to prove  that he is indeed worthy to bring his basketball know-how to a new level being at the helm of the Lancers, undoubtedly the most decorated collegiate ballclub outside of Metro Manila.

Cortes showed a lot of promise though as right after receiving the coaching baton from Donbel “Felix” Belano Jr. late last year, he powered the Lancers to a third place finish in the prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

Cortes, a highly defensive player during his prime that helped propel UV to multiple titles in the ‘90s, official to opens a new chapter in his career as he officially makes his coaching debut in the CESAFI against the Jaguars at 6:45 tonight.

Aside from Akomo, Cortes will also bank on his solid local crew led by Franz Arong, Alfred Codilla, Leonard Santillan, Josue Segumpan, Rey Anthony Suerte, Arvie Cabañero and June Kent Manzo III.

Noel is expected to counter them with his reliable hardcourt soldiers in Mark Labares, Kevin Villafranca, Ralph Dinolan, Edmundo Bayhonan, and rookie Ricky Dyn Peromingan.

Meanwhile, the University of Southern Philippine Foundation Baby Panthers and the Cebu Eastern College Dragons seek fot their first win when they take on each other in the juniors division match scheduled at 5:30 p.m. (FREEMAN)