Green Lancers pull off CESAFI four-peat

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Visayas Green Lancers launched a devastating rally bridging the third and fourth quarters to outlast the University of Cebu Webmasters, 85-77, in the deciding match of their best-of-three finals and complete a four-peat in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 25 basketball tournament on Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Raul Gentallan bagged 19 points with six rebounds and two assists while Albert Sacayan added 13 points and three boards in a balanced offensive performance that catapulted the Lancers to another sweet success.

Kent Ivo Salarda, who claimed his second season MVP award in three years, produced a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds while Paul John Taliman chipped in 11 markers and seven rebounds as the Lancers snared their fourth crown in a row and seventh overall in a record-equalling ninth straight finals appearance under the guidance of coach Gary Cortes since 2015.

The Visayanians in green and white jersey also stretched their record as the winningest college team in CESAFI’s 25-year history with a total of 17 championships under their belt.

 That included an unprecedented nine consecutive titles from the league’s inception in 2001 until 2009, with Boy Cabahug at the helm.

Aside from Cabahug and Cortes, Felix “Donbel” Belano, Jr. was the only other coach to have lifted a champion’s trophy with the Lancers back in 2014.