UV evens series

THE University of the Visayas Green Lancers got the breaks of the game to steal Game 2 from Southwestern University Cobras, 81-79, to even the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. college division finals at 1-1 at the Cebu Coliseum last night.

The diminutive John Abad again delivered the needed points for the Lancers as his triple in the final 42.9 seconds saved UV from collapsing when victory was already within grasp.

The win also doused cold water on the red hot game of SWU’s cold-blooded shooter and birthday boy Monbert Arong, who was treating Cobras supporters with an array of eight triples that made life difficult for the Lancers.

But as the break went UV’s way, Arong’s exploits were reduced to just blunt statistics as the Lancers celebrated victory after he missed the final attempt of the game.

With Arong hitting his marks, UV trailed by 10-points three times, the last time at 60-50 in the final nine minutes of the game.

UV got its first break when SWU’s Cameroonian center Benoit Mbala collected his fifth and final foul after trying to stop Steve Cedrick Akomo’s dunk in the 5:27 mark. The second was at the 3:13 mark after SWU’s other Cameroonian center Justin Aboude was slapped for his fifth foul trying to block Wowie Escocio’s shot.

Then 38 seconds later, and just moments after Arong nailed his seventh triple of the game, SWU coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba was slapped with a technical foul for excessive complaining, giving UV a chance to score three points and moved within 72-69 with 2:32 seconds left.

Without SWU’s two imports, Escocio then proved why he was named the best local player as he then scored four baskets and Emmanuel Calo delivered on a fastbreak to give UV back the lead, 75-73 with 1:15 left to play. Before that, the last time UV had the lead was at 3:31 of the second at 26-22.

But Bregondo quickly evened the game with two free throws at the other and Arong sank his eighth triple with 50.8 to go. However Abad sank a triple of his own eight seconds later to tie the game for the last time at 78.

Escocio scored for UV in the final 13.5 seconds mark and Joseph Nalos split his charities for SWU six seconds later before Abad score on a split charity for the final count.

Calo topscored for UV with 19 points on top of five rebounds, an assist and three steals, while Abad and Escocio had 17 and 16 points, respectively. Akomo finished with 10 points on top of 15 rebounds and two steals.