Thursday, October 09, 2008 8’s a wrap for Lancers By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE University of the Visaya Green Lancers captured their eighth straight title—on the 8th day of October in the year 2008.
It took a lot of talent and hardwork and, according to their coach, divine intervention for the Green Lancers to capture their eighth straight basketball title in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) after defeating the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in Game 4 of the best-of-five finals series, 73-68, yesterday at a jampacked Cebu Coliseum.
The Green Lancers dedicated their victory to their former teammate Jessie “Lucky” Pitogo, who died before the start of the season after being mugged near his home in Lilo-an.
Lucky’s luck
“Lucky gave us the luck. This win is for him. We know he is with us in this victory. How else could you explain it? Our eighth win on Oct. 8, 2008 and the jersey he used to wear was No. 8,” said a flustered UV head coach Elmer Boy Cabahug.
And lucky UV really was as it managed to overhaul a deficit that dragged on for three quarters.
“It was all about adjustments. They were able to adjust to us in Game 3 and so we had to make our own adjustments. There was never a doubt in my mind that we will win this year,” said the other half of the power duo of the coaching staff, Al Solis.
The Jaguars maintained precarious leads right from the start of the game behind the shooting prowess of streak shooter Lyndon Gudez, who had to carry the Jaguars on his back.
In the final period, both teams figured in two deadlocks, before UV finally broke from USJ-R’s grasp when Harold Cincoflores led a 6-0 run for a 62-56 lead.
Once more, USJ-R’s Luther Justiniani kept shooting blanks, leaving Gudez to do all the hard work
Cincoflores was also a revelation in this game as he scored 16 points and was 8- of-8 from the free throw line. He made his presence felt in the third period and with the help of Von Lañete, gave UV the first taste of the lead in this game.
Meanwhile, Greg Slaughter swept this year’s MVP awards as he nailed the finals MVP title to add to his All-Star and regular season awards.
