CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers blew hot and cold but turned to a sizzling offensive in the windup to fend
off the gritty University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 66-57, in yesterday's lone juniors division match of the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Meanwhile, CESAFI commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. announced that there will be no games this Thursday as the league pays its respect to the death of Oscar "Jun" Jereza, Jr., owner and vice president of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF).
The Baby Lancers were in full control after cruising to a 12-2 start, but were continually threatened by the big-hearted Baby Jaguars who did not fold up in the face of a decisive rally by the taller and bigger UV cagers.
The rookie-laden Baby Jaguars were completely outclassed by their formidable foes in almost all facets of the game, but their fighting spirit, stifling defense and the excellent playmaking skills of Vince Winson Castro, Vince William Huevos and Earl Jofflet Ponte kept them going before the Baby Lancers launched their final wave of attack.
After being down by as much as 18 points, 37-55, late in the third period, the Baby Jaguars of coach Marlon Piodo fought
back with aplomb, dropping a 10-0 bomb to trim the huge deficit down to a single digit, 47-55, with still 7:15 left to play.
Emmanuel Villamor, however, ended UV's four-minute scoring drought with a buzzer-beating shot that sparked a 10-0 blitz, giving the Baby Lancers a heavy sigh of relief with a commanding 65-47 lead at the final 4:21 mark of the contest.
With the win already in UV's pocket, the Baby Jaguars capped their decent showing by closing the match with a 10-1 run
to lose by only nine.
Villamor and six-foot center Prince Litton Cañete finished with 15 points each, while Jun Kent Manzo and Ernesto Limitares fired 10 markers as the Lancers coasted to their second straight victory in as many starts.
Kherlie Pino was the lone double-digit scorer with 17 points for the Baby Jaguars. (FREEMAN)