Warriors take Game 1

CEBU, Philippines – The University of San Carlos Warriors unleashed a furious offensive in the second quarter, then warded off a spirited but late comeback effort by the University of  the Visayas Green Lancers to ease through a 76-70 win in the opener of their best-of-five collegiate division finals in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Cameroonian import Shooster Olago dished out a solid 21-point, 11-rebound output, even as three others banged in double figures for the Warriors, who gamely shrugged off a slow start to turn back the Lancers and gain a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head record this season.

The Lancers actually raced to a rousing start, easily wiping out an early 15-18 deficit using a 13-3 blitz to gain an eight-point headway, 28-19, on Jason Balabag's free throws with 4:12 left in the second canto.

But that proved to be UV's brightest moment as the Warriors countered with a devastating 26-7 attack to gain the upperhand, 45-35, for good.

After the Lancers pulled within striking range, 45-51, Victor Rabat unloaded nine straight points before Ian Tagapan and Ian Ortega dropped consecutive 3-point bombs to vault the Warriors to their biggest lead at 17 points, 72-55, with 3:36 left to play.

Just when everybody thought the outcome has already been decided, the Lancers left the crowd glued to their seats after they made a 14-1 blitz to threaten at 69-73 but time wasn't obviously on their side with only 15.8 ticks left in the gamelock.

Olago, who went 2-of-8 earlier from the stripe, calmy sank a pair of gift shots at the final 5.9 seconds of the contest to seal the deal for the Warriors.

Ortega finished with 11 points, while Ortega and Charles Pepito chipped in 10 markers apiece for the Warriors, who shoot for a commanding 2-0 series lead when they take on the Lancers in Game 2 at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

June Kent Manzo topscored for the Lancers with 21 points, while Akomo, who was already in foul trouble with still 6:25 left to play, finished with 16 points, including nine at the final three-minute mark that somehow helped guide the Lancers to a modest six-point defeat. (FREEMAN)