CEBU, Philippines - It's never over till it's over.
This is the firm conviction of University of the Visayas (UV) head coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. as the Green Lancers are faced with the tremendous odds of overturning a huge 0-2 deficit in their best-of-five finals series against the rampaging Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Not only that they are in such a deep hope, the Lancers also suffered a disppointing fifth consecutive defeat to the Cobras, something that UV hasn't tasted in its remarkable history that dated back in the late '30s when the school was then known as Visayan Institute (VI).
"Right, it has never happened before. It's very frustrating, but it's not over yet. Anything can happen," said Belano, a former member of the UV national champion team who was crowned All-Star MVP in the 1996 season of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association (CAAA), the precursor of the CESAFI.
Belano said he has done his best in motivating his players as well as loading them with the tools necessary for a championship battle and it's now up to them to show they have a strong will and big fighting heart to win most especially now that their backs are against the wall.
"Basketball is for the intelligent and driven people. Character is also important. I can teach all what I've learned to them based on my experience as a player but to draw out character and desire from them is very tough," said Belano.
"But I continue to believe for my team. It's a difficult task ahead of us, but the ball is round as they say. We just need one win and then it will change the tempo, added Belano, who is best remembered for recording the first ever quadruple-double in the annals of Philippine basketball. He achieved the feat when he still played for the Davao Eagles in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) a decade ago.
During their first three meetings this season, the Lancers lost only by a margin of five points to the Cobras in super close matches that could have gone either way.
The finals was a completely different story as the Lancers were simply outclassed by the more dominant Cobras.
During the uneventful series opener wherein the two sides literally figured in a 'battle of errors', the Cobras prevailed by 12 points, 64-52.
In that instance, the Lancers had several chances to forge a down-the-wire finish but quelled their own comeback hopes with their poor free-throw shooting. When the Cobras led by just six, 46-52, with still plenty of time left to play, Mike Harry Nzeusseu and Wowie Escocio flubbed four crucial freebies in a row. They shot only 3-of-10 from the stripe in the fourth period and a terrible 10-of-26 overall in sharp contrast to SWU's 17-of-22 conversions from the foul line.
In Game 2, the Lancers did put up a gallant stand but only for two quarters and a half as the Cobras detonated a 15-0 bomb midway in the third period to break UV's backs, 73-60, and move only one victory away from claiming their first ever back-to-back titles since they rejoined the league in 2007.
Again, the Lancers went only 15-of-27 from the free-throw line that pales in comparison to SWU's 19-of-27 stats.
Aside from that, the Lancers must also be reminded that importance of teamwork. They haven't shown that, so far, that is why they kept on losing against their bitter rivals.
Ranged against SWU that is replete with talents bannered by two Cameroonians behemoths in Landry Sanjo and Fabrice Siewe, the Lancers need a unified effort to bring down their goliath foe.
Thus, Escocio should come out of his shell and prove he is worthy of making league history last year for sweeping the Rookie of the Year and regular season MVP awards. Team captain Cris Perolino must also live up to his role in providing leadership to his comrades. He could not afford to lay a big fat egg like he and Raffy October did in Game 2.
The likes of Alfred Codilla, Nico Marquez, Vincent Mendoza, Arvie Cabañero, and Benhur Villamor should also play high level of intensity and work doubly hard in helping their ace playmaker John Abad and Nzeusseu pick up the offensive cudgels for UV.
Unfortunately for Lancers, they will proceed into the pivotal Game 3 this Sunday with a handicap as they play without their top wingman Francisco Arong, who will serve an automatic one-game suspension after being ejected in Game 2 for committing a disqualifying foul against SWU's star guard Monbert Arong.
But even if the odds are stuck against them, Belano still has high hopes and remains steadfast in his faith to his team that they will overcome all of them.
"For my players, they should not to give up. A true warrior finishes the battle until his last breath. It's not over until it's over. I challenge them to rise to the occasion and show their gratefulness to the team and the school who gave them an opportunity of a lifetime. Lastly, they should honor God in their lives and all things will follow," Belano said. (FREEMAN)