CEBU, Philippines — The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers swept the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in their best-of-three finals with a decisive 72-55 victory in Game 2 to complete another Grand Slam feat in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Season 24 basketball tournament on Saturday, December 7, at the Cebu Coliseum.
It was UV’s second set of three-peat behind the stewardship of coach Gary Cortes, who also piloted the Lancers to three consecutive titles from 2016 to 2018.
Cortes now has a total of six championship trophies in eight straight Finals appearances since taking over UV’s coaching reins in 2015.
In all, the Lancers bagged their 16th crown to galvanize their status as the most winningest team in the league’s 24-year history.
Coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug laid the bedrock for the shining UV dynasty when he piloted the hardcourt warriors in green and white jersey to nine straight championships from the CESAFI’s inaugural season in 2000 until 2009.
Now under the baton of Cortes, the Lancers kept their winning tradition after vanquishing the Webmasters in the Finals for the third time in a row.
“Una, pasalamat ko sa Ginoo nga naghatag kanatong tanan sa kusog ug kabaskog aron makigbisog adlaw-adlaw ug sa kadaogan,” said Cortes. “Ang nakapa-champion namo ang amo ra gyung determinasyon, hard work ug championship experience kay ang UC di gyud basta basta nga kontra sa finals.”
The Lancers used the same script during the series opener in finishing off the Webmasters, turning a once close match into a lopsided contest with an explosive second-half performance.
Raul Gentallan was the man of the hour for the Lancers after being honored as the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Gentallan, who netted 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, one steal and block, was joined in the elite Mythical 5 by his teammate AJ Sacayan, Elmer Echavez of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, Serge Gabines of the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs, and Ray Charles Libatog of the UC Webmasters.
Last year’s season MVP Kent Ivo Salarda dropped 19 points with four rebounds and three steals while Paul John Taliman stepped up bigtime with 16 points on an spectacular 8-of-11 shooting from the field with five boards and two steals for the Lancers, who led by only a matchstick, 34-33, entering the locker room.
But the Lancers surged to double-digit edge, 55-45, after three quarters before blasting their way to a 20-point advantage, 72-52, on a 3-pointer by team captain Jimpaul Amistoso in the dying seconds that became the icing on their victory cake.
“In behalf of the UV Green Lancers, daghang salamat sa Gullas family and to the entire Visayanian community. The success we achieved wouldn’t have been possible without their unwavering support,” said Cortes.
Fil-Am guard Jepherson Nonol was the lone UC player in double figures with 12 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal for the Webmasters, who again faltered in their quest to end their 13-year title drought.