CESAFI semifinals gets underway

CEBU, Philippines – The top seeded University of the Visayas Green Lancers and second-ranked University of San Carlos Warriors take on separate foes as the semifinal round in college division of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament gets underway today at the Cebu Coliseum.

For the second time, the UV Lancers will try to reaffirm their mastery over the fourth-ranked University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in the opening match at 5:15 p.m., while the USC Warriors will settle their unfinished business with the heavily undermanned Southwestern University Cobras in the main game at 6:45 p.m.

The Lancers scored a two-game sweep of the Jaguars during the elimination round, but that is no enough reason for them to take their foes lightly considering that they labored hard in those victories.

During their first meeting last August 6, the Lancers did one magical trick in overhauling a seven-point deficit with a little over a minute left to play to  frustrate the Jaguars, 89-82.

In their September 3 rematch, the Jaguars again stared at victory with a 77-76 lead in the dying seconds of the contest, but Alfred Codilla dropped a booming 3-point bomb to vault the Lancers to a nerve-wracking 99-77 win.

Now that the stakes are higher this time, the Lancers must brace for another heart-stopping battle against the tough-fighting Jaguars.

As usual, coach Gary Cortes will count the most from Steve Cedrick Akomo, Franz Arong, Leonard Santillan, Alfred Codilla, and All-Star MVP June Kent Manzo. They also have Alvin Aguirre, Josue Sugampan, Arvie Cabañero, Jerome Napao, Vincent Mendoza and Rey Suerte to fight for their cause.

Against USJ-R, UV is again expected to have another tough time as the Jaguars are also loaded with reliable offensive gunners in the mold of Kevin Villafranca, Ralph Dinolan, Jaybie Mantilla, Mark Labares, Miguel Gastador, Nelvin Navarra, Ricky Peromingan, and Renzo Senining.

In the main match, the Warriors are a shoo-in to crush the Cobras despite they have an even 1-1 record during their classfication stage. The Warriors prevailed, 91-69, during their first encounter last August 2, but the Cobras evened things up via a 79-77 cliffhanger last August 30.

It's going to be a different story this time though as the Cobras have been reduced to only seven players with star playmaker Mark Jayven Tallo and Jesse Bautista on injured list.

With only five reliables left in Melvin Holper, Anton Pardo, Giovanie Luz, Michael Auditor and Mark Racho, the Cobras are absolutely no match against the formidable Warriors led by Shooster Olago, Ian Tagapan, Charles Pepito, Nico Magat, Ian Ortega, and Victor Rabat. (FREEMAN)