UV Lancers split opening games in Bayugan basketball tourney

BAYUGAN CITY, Philippines — The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers split their opening games just hours apart from each other at the start of the Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Basketball Tournament 2024 on Thursday, June 27, here at the Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium in the bustling city of Agusan del Sur.

Behind the hot hands of sharpshooting guards AJ Sacayan and Kent Ivo Salarda, the two-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) defending champions kicked off their title bid with an  80-68 drubbing of the University Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas.

Sacayan darted in seven 3-pointers of his game-high 26 points, while Salarda, the reigning CESAFI Most Valuable Player,  made six conversions from beyond the arc en route to a 22-point finish for the Lancers of coach Gary Cortes,  who surged ahead by as much as 21 points, 66-45, at the 3:30 mark of the third frame.

Ivorian big man Lass Coulibaly added 13 points as the Lancers cruised to an emphatic 12-point win.

After a few hours rest, the Lancers hit the floor. They appeared to have headed to another victory when they built  a 13-point advantage late in the third quarter against the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals despite the ejection of Coulibaly.

But the Lancers wilted in the face of a spirited endgame fightback by the valiant Generals on the way to suffer a gut-wrenching  89-85 defeat.

It was a sorry loss for the Lancers, who enjoyed a big 68-55 lead despite playing without Coulibaly, who was thrown out of the game after being whistled for his second technical foul early in the third period.

The Lancers were on top for the last time at 85-84 on Raul Gentallan s twin gift shots with 1:23 left in the closely-fought contest as King Gurtiza sank two crucial free throws before Nicol Gil Quinal knocked in a booming 3-pointer in the final 41 seconds that  sealed the deal for the Generals.

Gurtiza showed the way for the Generals with 26 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Quinal added 23 points on top of three boards.

Gentallan tallied 16 markers, while Christopher Isabelo added 14 points for the Lancers, who will face a tall order in their attempt for a second victory as they collide with the UAAP heavyweights Adamson Soaring Falcons at 8 a.m. today (Friday, June 28).