AS a tropical depression hit Cebu’s shores, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers kicked up a storm of their own and moved to the semifinal round of the Collegiate Champions League at the San Juan Arena.
The Green Lancers scored their second straight rout, this time against the University of Mindanao, 78-58, to move to the final four and surpass their quarterfinal finish last year.
The Lancers have now inched closer to the title round but will have to face a gargantuan task of taking down Far Eastern Univesity Tamaraws in the semis. Last year, the Green Lancers bombed out of the title hunt when they lost to San Beda.
If UV had dominated the local scene, winning the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. title for the last seven years, it has been a different experience in the national level.
Final chance
UV has tried and failed to win a national title for the past five years. UV head coach Elmer Cabahug wants to finally end the slump this year as it is the last chance UV has with pivot man Rino Berami, who is in his last playing year.
During yesterday’s game, the Lancers, who had the advantage in size and experience, played an almost flawless basketball, balancing their offense with stifling defense.
While the UV squad fired off 22 and 21 points in the first two periods, they were able to hold off its opponents to just 22 points in two quarters to lead 43-22 at the turn.
With a comfortable lead in the third, the Lancers started to relax and managed only to score 16 points in this period. UM doubled its production in the third period but it was not enough to pull closer or shake UV’s boosted confidence.
Ritchum Dennison and Berami were the only two scoring in double digits for UV with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
UV’s first two assignments were practically a walk in the park for the Cebuano powerhouse. The real acid test for them will be FEU, who was poised to win over STI last night and will be their only hurdle before reaching the final round.
