UV Lancers' prized catch to make debut before fellow Ormocanons in PCCL

CEBU, Philippines – It's green and go for the University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers as they gear up for what is by far their biggest challenge of the year, the Visayas elimination and Vis-Min Zonal of the prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) slated on December 8-9 at the Ormoc Superdome.

As they embark on a tough mission, the Lancers will parade the young but promising playmaker Christian Bolaño, their prized catch from Tambulilid, Ormoc City.

Bolaño, surely an added firpower to UV's already solid lineup, was discovered sometime early this year by Van Halen Parmis, the scouting coach of the Green Lancers who is also a native of Leyte.

"Seeing his (Bolaño) talents, I don't have any doubts in my mind that this young baller has a long way to go. I saw a potential in him, a star in the making once given proper training and guidance," said Parmis, highly regarded as one of the winningest commercial coaches in the country.

The youngest in the team, Parmis describes the 18-year-old Bolaño as a previously undiscovered talent who is now a potential 'hardcourt bomb' ready to explode once given a break.

A four-time MVP to date and counting, one each from the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) and the National Basketball Training Camp (NBTC) and two from the Ormoc City Schools and Sports Organization (OCSSO), Bolaño's skills will be tried and tested as he will make his debut with the Lancers before the eyes of his fellow Ormocanons in the two-day joust.

As if that is not enough, the Lancers have also lined up veteran enforcer Jan Monic Soliva, also a Leyteño from Maasin City, to strengthen their defense at the frontcourt.

The Lancers source of inspiration, however, is not drawn exclusively from the entry of the two stalwarts into their system.  Set to add color and meaning to their journey is another charity work, a gift-giving activity scheduled today, December 7, at Linao National High School.  The chosen beneficiary of their charitable act are students from the school where Bolaño came from.

"We have to extend a big thank you to UV Lancers coach Gary Cortes for his generosity in initiating this noble undertaking," said Parmis.

In Ormoc, the Lancers will vie for the lone Vis-Min spot to the PCCL Final Eight that wil slug it out on December 13-17 in Manila. The University of San Carlos Warriors gained automatic berth to the national finals being the CESAFI champion as well as the Far Eastern University Tamaraws of the UAAP and the Letran Knights of the NCAA.— EBV (FREEMAN)