Monday, September 05, 2005
UV Jrs. take 2
By Glenn C. Michelena
Sun.Star Correspondent
IN STARK contrast to their unshakeable College-division comrades, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers can be dominating one night, disappointing the next.
The up-and-down nature of the defending high-school champions was again in full display Saturday at the Tabunok Gym, where the underrated Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens registered a shocking 91-76 demolition job over the Baby Lancers as the 2005 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament first round of eliminations drew to a close.
The UV Green Lancers, on the other hand, continued to strengthen their College title defense by registering their fifth straight win, a 90-82 drubbing of the CIT Wildcats in the nightcap.
First-quarter run
A fast start by the Wildkittens proved to be a pivotal factor in the upset.
Ken Cañete knocked down a big 3-point bomb to jumpstart the run, and Rick dela Cerna, who finished with a game-high 22 points, continued the onslaught with 10 first-quarter points as the Kittens erected a 24-18 lead after a quarter.
The Wildkittens were even hotter in the second period, where they started on a 14-2 run and closed the half ahead by 17 points, 51-33.
Awesome
The Baby Lancers played catch-up from that point on, but not even a big second-half outburst from Jonah Avila and John Cañada prevented the Kittens from posting their fourth win in six games.
Meanwhile, unlike their younger comrades, the Green Lancers again registered another awesome performance.
With the high-flying Morsie Akad turning in a spectacular 24-point show, the Green Lancers got off to a scorching start and posted a 28-17 first-quarter lead to end the half on top by nine, 43-34.
The Cats mounted several comeback attempts in the second half and managed to trim the lead to 63-71 at the end of the third period. But UV, which also drew stellar performances from Ariel Mepaña, Randy Sevilla and Jaysar Esperat, blew the game wide open midway in the fourth period and headed to an easy win. It was the fifth straight loss for the Wildcats.
CIT Jrs. (91) – Dela Cerna 22, Del Mar 16, Labagala 11, Augosto 8, Diaz 8, Cañete 7, Alvarez 6, Isidro 6, Rama 6, Ybañez 1. UV Jrs. (76) – Avila 17, Cañada 12, Pitogo 10, Lao 9, Mercader 8, Herruela 6, Gonzaga 5, Camay 3, Cabahug 2, Fuentes 2, Lacho 2.
UV Srs. (90) – Akad 24, Esperat 15, Sevilla 15, Mepaña, Ababon 6, Santos 5, Calo 2, Lañete 2. CIT Srs. (82) – Guevarra 16, Abobo 15, Bustos 12, Belecario 9, Aniñon 6, Reyes 6, Lumongsod 5, Abapo 2.
(September 5, 2005 issue)
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