CEBU, Philippines - It was just the first game of the season, but fans were treated right away to a very entertaining hardcourt showdown courtesy of the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers and the vastly improved University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors.
Inspired by the cheers of their respective supporters, the two protagonists fought tooth and nail as if it was already the championship stage.
When the dust settled after an intense 40-minute skirmish, the Baby Lancers came out blaring the victory trumpet.
Jun Kent Manzo hit four crucial free throws in a row and Ernesto Limitares knocked in a booming 3-pointer with five second lefts in the contest to mastermind a daring 77-74 escape by the Baby Lancers over the gritty Baby Warriors in a nerve-wracking match that kicked off the 13th season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Along with that pulsating victory, the Baby Lancers also spoiled the coaching debut of Britt Reroma with USC. Nevertheless, the Baby Warriors can still hold their heads up high for putting up a gallant stand against a powerhouse squad.
Manzo churned out 22 points, including six straight in an 8-0 blitz that gave the Baby Lancers their biggest lead at 12 points, 36-24, with 2:21 remaining in the second period.
The Baby Warriors, however, countered with a blistering 15-2 rally to wrest the driver's seat, 39-38, early in the third. The two squads then figured in a closely-fought battle that was accounted for eight deadlocks and 13 lead changes.
After the Baby Warriors knotted the count at 68-all, Manzo drilled in four straight foul throws to give UV a 72-68 breather at the final 1:21 mark.
After the Baby Warriors again threatened at 72-74 on Kervin Villagracia's basket with 36 seconds remaining, the Baby Lancers could have stretched their lead but Limirates flubbed his twin gift shots. The Baby Warriors made the most from the opportunity, with Villagracia scoring on a barelling drive to even the score for the last time at 74-all with 26 ticks left to play.
Limitares, however, transformed himself from goat to hero by drilling in a crucial trey off a nifty assist by John Escalona that came like a dagger that plunged into the hearts of the Baby Warriors with 4.9 seconds to go. The Baby Warriors still could have forged an overtime, but blew their chances when Paul Galinato opted for an ill-advised 2-point attempt that just bounced off the rim.
Escalona finished with 12 points for the Baby Lancers. Limitares only had nine points, but spelled the biggest difference in UV's resounding triumph.
Villagracia charted 21 points, while Galinato and Juneau Antigua scattered 14 and 12 markers, respectively, for the Baby Warriors, who were without Scott Aying, one of their supposed to be star players who is not yet cleared by the league's technical committee to play for the team. (FREEMAN)