THE University of Visayas (UV) Baby Green Lancers stunned the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters, 101-90, to clinch the last finals slot in the high school division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foudation Inc. (Cesafi) Partner’s Cup 2018 in the Cebu Coliseum yesterday.
The Baby Green Lancers unleashed a 21-2 run in the fourth quarter that started with consecutive two-pointers from Joshua Yerro and a three-pointer by George Cometa to erase an eight-point deficit and turn it to a 98-87 edge.
The Junior Webmasters were leading 85-77 after Jasper Pacaña split the defense with a drive to the basket with 6:18 left to play. But that was the last bright spot for UC as they struggled to find the range and only scored two points in the next five minutes.
While UC was struggling to make their shots, UV put on a tear with Cometa, Yerro, Albert Sacayan, Brian Laurente and Dave Basalo all contributing in a telling 21-2 blast.
After UV scored 11 straight points, James Inicio of UC momentarily stopped the bleeding with a putback shot to make it 87-88. But UV answered with another 10 straight points.
Cometa drilled a three-pointer followed with a drive plus a foul from Sacayan, who had cramps after the shot. Laurente took and made the bonus free throw for a 94-87 lead with 2:34 to play.
Basalo and Laurente then scored two points each to give UV a commanding 11-point lead, 98-87, with a minute to play. UC scored a three-pointer while UV made three free throws to ice the game at 101-90.
UC was leading 77-70 after the third quarter with Pacana scoring 11 in the third. But the Junior Webmasters lost the momentum in the final frame. The Webmasters dropped to third spot with 4-2 slate.
Cometa scored 12 of his game-high 32 points to lead UV, which improved to 4-1 (win-lose) record. Sacayan added 21, Yerro chipped in 15 and Actub handed 14.
UV will still play the winless Cebu Institute of Techonology University (CIT-U) Wild Kittens on Saturday for the last game in the elimination round. But regardless the result of the game, UV is already guaranteed a slot to the finals.
UV will play the Organique-University of Southern Philippines (USP-F) Baby Panthers in a best-of-three finals which starts on Sunday. (RSC)