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Monday, October 10, 2005
UV does it again
By Glenn C. Michelena
Sun.Star Correspondent
THE mighty University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers endured 40 minutes of hell from the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters before escaping with a three-point win in Game 1. It was a totally different scenario in Game 2.
Powered by a murderous third-quarter run, the Green Lancers blew out the Webmasters, 76-55, in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series Saturday night at the UV Gym, and carried the Lancers to a 2-0 sweep over the Webmasters for the 2005 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) college basketball crown.
The 2005 title was the Green Lancers’ fifth straight, and fittingly capped an eventful day for the UV as the UV Baby Lancers swept the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens with a nail-biting 67-66 overtime win in Game 2 of their series.
Repeat champs
In the other championship battle of the day, the University of Cebu (UC) Lady Webmasters repeated as champions with a 68-63 win over the University of San Carlos Lady Warriors in the sudden-death Women’s championship.
UV sixth-man Jaysar Esperat scored 23 points, including 18 in the second half, which also drew 12 points from Jayford Rodriguez. The match appeared headed for another close finish until UV went on a murderous 21-2 run in the third period.
“I told the boys at halftime that if we don’t get the job done defensively in the third period, we’ll be in for another long night,” said UV coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, whose team led by only one, 42-41, at the half. “I told them to concentrate on defense – the offense will follow.”
True enough, UV came out sharper, crispier and meaner in the third period. With its air-tight defense producing open-floor opportunities, Esperat and Rodriguez went on a scoring spree and powered UV to a 9-0 run to start the third quarter.
A drive by UC’s Miguel Ducay momentarily stopped the bleeding at 5:11 of the quarter, but UV went on another 10-0 run to erect a fat 20-point lead, 63-43, going into the final canto.
Biggest lead
UC showed no signs of recovery after that.
A spectacular Rodriguez drive over UC forward Jonathan Canceran gave UV its biggest lead of the game, 72-44, with only 5:21 left in the match, sending the crowd heading for the exits.
“All championships are special, but this one is very memorable because we lost (in the elimination round) and that was the turning point of our season,” said Cabahug of his freshest championship. “From that point, we became a much, much better team.”
The High School division series, which had a yawn-inducing 74-49 UV win in Game 1, turned out to be big thriller in yesterday’s Game 2.
Two free throws by UV star Phil Mercader forced overtime, where both teams engaged in a seesaw battle to the end.
With UV leading by 67-64, UC playmaker Eliezar del Mar missed two free throws but teammate Rex Ybañez came to the rescue, grabbing the offensive rebound and scoring on a putback to trim UV’s lead to just one, 67-66, time down to four seconds.
Botched play
Amazingly, the Baby Lancers botched their inbound play and sent the ball to the Wildkittens, who missed three consecutive undergoal stabs as time expired.
Green Lancers point guard Mark Ababon was named the MVP of the season, and landed a spot on the 2005 Cesafi College Mythical Team, where he joined teammates Rodriguez and low-post terror Ariel Mepaña, Ducay of UC and Elvis Labares of the University of Southern Philippines (USP) Panthers.
Rookie of Year
UC bruiser Ata Ayuk was named the College division’s Rookie of the Year.
Mercader was named MVP of the High School division and was joined in the Mythical Five by del Mar, UC star pivot Jan Colina, University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors’ 6-foot-5 center John Lao and USP guard Jordan Hermosa.
Lucky Pitogo, a baby-faced 6-foot-2 forward of the Baby Lancers, was named Rookie of the Year.
In the Women’s division, UC guard Anabelle Nieves was named MVP and teammate Carol Guay was named Rookie of the Year.
Joining Nieves in the Mythical Team were UC stalwarts Clarissa Lanuza, Maria Melrose Piloto and Maria Pilapil, and Jessamine delos Reyes of USC.
UC Women (68) – Nieves 23, Guay 15, Lanuza 9, Fernandez 8, Belonguez 6, Nicolas 5, Piloto 2. USC (63) – Delos Reyes 22, Cañete 12, Ceniza 11, Querubin 6, Comajig 6, Lim 4, Bernales 2.
UV Jrs. (67) – Mercader 15, Cañada 12, Pitogo 10, Herruela 10, Cabahug 9, Lao 6, P. Avila 4, Belocura 1. CIT Jrs. (66) – Delmar 17, Diaz 16, dela Cerna 9, Ybañez 7, Agusto 6, Labagala 5, Alvares 4, Cañete 2.
UV Srs. (76) – Esperat 23, Rodriguez 12, Ababon 9, Mepaña 7, Sevilla 6, Akad 5, Berame 5, Abelong 3, Tacaldo 3, Santos 3. UC Srs. (55) – Ducay 15, Saludsod 10, Abatayo 8, Batobalonos 4, Sesante 4, Cadayong 4, Ayuk 3, Canceran 3, Villanil 2, Yncierto 2.
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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