CEBU, Philippines - The fifth-ranked University of the Visayas Baby Lancers exacted brutal revenge in a 68-42 annihilation of the twice-to-beat University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguarts to live and fight for another day in the juniors division of the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament last night at the University of San Carlos-Main gym.
Unlike in their previous meeting last August 8 where they got thrashed by 22 points, 53-65, a vibrant and spirited Baby Lancers showed up this time, never looking back after racing to a hot 10-0 start. Holding off their rivals in the first seven minutes of play was already an ominous warning for the Baby Jaguars, who scored only four in the first quarter.
After closing the first half with a commanding 30-12 lead, the Baby Lancers kept the flames of their relentless offense burning on the way to establish their biggest advantage at 31 points, 51-20, with a little over a minute remaining in the third period. That kept the Baby Jaguars groggy and staggering the rest of the way.
The versatile Jancork Cabahug once again carried the Baby Lancers on his broad shoulders with 27 points, while Ramish Alforque chipped in a dozen markers, including a crisp 3-pointer in a five-point swing that dashed the comeback hopes of the Baby Jaguars after they pulled within 18 points, 14-32.
The Baby Lancers, thus, forged a knockout match against the fourth seed the Baby Jaguars on Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum. The winner will completed the four-team semifinal cast together with the unbeaten Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, University of San Carlos Baby Warriors, and the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters. (FREEMAN)