CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers seek no less than revenge when they take on the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats at the start of the second round of elimination in the 14th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.
In a bad start they never experienced in recent memory, the Lancers fell flat to the Wildcats, 60-67, during their season-opening assignment last August 3. More than avenging that loss, the wards of coach Felix 'Donbel' Belano, Jr. also hope to refresh themselves coming off their worst start in the league's 14-year history, winning only two of their first five games.
Ranged against a team without any foreign reinforcement, tonight is the best chance for the Lancers to get back into the winning track. With only four more games toward the second round, UV's road to recovery must begin in their scheduled 5:30 p.m. duel against CIT-U.
The presence of Jean Marie Mpouma and Jeff Aguara is a huge advantage for the Lancers, not to mention their local mainstays in the likes of John Michael Abad, Francisco Arong, Chris Perolino and Rhaffy Octobre.
On the Wildcats' side, they have their old reliables who are capable of pulling an upset and slaying giants. They are Joshua de la Cerna, Allan Dimco, Jose Marlo Pono, Franklyn Batiquin, and Jeffrey Taghoy.
Apart from the UV-CIT rematch, fans will be treated to a more intense game when the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, both undefeated in three games, dispute the solo lead in the juniors division.
Offensively, Janjan Jaboneta is the most reliable guy for SHS-Ateneo, but having Adrison Gaviola, Jose Piero Dominic Longa and Joshua Sinclair at their frontcourt and Nino Araw-araw tending their backcourt, the Magis Eagles are truly a formidable fighting force.
The Baby Warriors, on the other hand, will count the most from the fast-rising Marc Andre Ting, Jean Jacque Antigua and Kent john Malazarte among others.
SHS-Ateneo and USC will collide at 4 p.m., right after the CIT-U Wildkittens clash with the skidding Don Bosco Technology Center Greywolves at 2:30 p.m. In the opener at 1 p.m, The UV Baby Lancers will go up against the Cebu Eastern College Dragons. (FREEMAN)