UV Lancers eye bounce-back win

CEBU, Philippines — Reigning four-peat champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers hope to rebound from a shocking loss as they battle against the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu Fighting Maroons in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 26 basketball tournament today (Sunday, September 13) at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers suffered a 68-81 upset at the hands of the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in their first game last August 30.

The Gary Cortes-mentored Visayanians will try to recover from that stinging setback as they take on UP Cebu at 3:30 p.m.

The Fighting Maroons themselves are coming off a heart-breaking defeat.

They led by as much as 27 points only to be stunned by the never-say-die Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats by the slenderest of threads, 70-71, on September 8.

On the other hand, the USC Warriors and University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers are itching to get back on the right track but one of them will stumble again after their 5 p.m. duel.

After stunning the Lancers, the Warriors got thrashed by the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 63-81.

The Panthers beat UCLM, 81-76, in their season debut but bowed down to the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs, 56-62, in their previous match.

In the juniors division, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguar Cubs are both aiming to extend their perfect start to 3-0 but only one of them will achieve their goal after their 12:30 p.m. collision.

The Dragons hurdled their first two assignments against the San Carlos School of Cebu (SCSC) Baby Warriors, 75-64, and the USPF Baby Panthers, 67-54.

The Jaguar Cubs opened their bid with a 76-35 rout of the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) Greywolves and then followed it up with a 65-48 drubbing of the CIT-U Junior Wildcats.

In the 2 p.m. clash, the UC Junior Webmasters gun for back-to-back victories as they take on the Junior Wildcats.

The Junior Webmasters whipped the Baby Cheetahs, 61-40, in their season-opener. — (FREEMAN)