Wednesday, September 05, 2007 Jaguars tangle with UV Lancers today
WILL the University of San Jose Recoletos-Jaguars (USJ-R) succeed where all the others failed?
That is to defeat the virtually insurmountable University of the Visayas Green Lancers when they face off today in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball competition at the University of San Carlos gym.
The task may be daunting considering UV is virtually indestructible, but USJ-R has done it before.
UV, the six-time defending champion, has only lost in the Cesafi regular season once in six years—to University of Cebu in the eliminations of 2005.
USJ-R defeated UV in the championship series of the off-season competition, the Partners Cup, earlier this year.
USJ-R is still reeling from its overtime loss to newcomer Southwestern University Cobras last week and is thirsting to avenge that loss when it takes on the Lancers in the 6 p.m. main offering.
The Lancers, on the other hand, is in a familiar territory, they seat on top of the standings—undefeated after six games.
Beermen
UV will be led by Rino Berame, Mike Luga, Ariel Mepana, Von Lañete and Gregory Slaughter, all fresh off a brush with the big timers of the Philippine Basketball Association—the San Miguel Beerman, last Sunday.
Meanwhile, USJ-R will have Jan Malinao and Lyndon Gudez, who played with the UV stalwarts against SMB.
The curtain raiser, on the other hand, pits the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters against the University of Southern Philippines Panthers (USPF).
UC is trying to muddle through a 2-3 win-loss ledger and its chances of making it to the top four are hanging by a thread.
The top four teams after the elimination round will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage in the next phase.
UC needs to win its next two games in order to replace either SWU or USJ-R, who are currently at the third and fourth places with identical 4-2 win-loss records.
USPF for its part, needs to win to wiggle itself out of a three-way tie with Don Bosco College and Cebu Institute of Technology at the bottom of the standing. All three hold 1-5 ledgers. (MCB)
