THE University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers proved yet again that when the games matter, nobody does it better, as they put down the latest contender to their crown, the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras, 71-66, in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum on Thursday, September 26, 2019.
The win shoved UV to the top of the standings at 4-1 while SWU-Phinma dropped its first game of the season and fell to 3-1.
The Cobras were ahead, 64-61, after a basket by Dyll Roncal but the battle-tested Green Lancers did not blink, answering with a deuce from Lass Coulibally, a transition bucket by Michael Maestre and a three-point play by Ted Saga that guard Sheldon Gahi made happen with a steal at halfcourt, to give UV a 68-64 lead.
SWU-Phinma stayed close after a putback by Roncal but Maestre had an answer, making a one-dribble pull-up jumper from the baseline to give UV a 70- 66 lead, with just 59.6 seconds left.
The Cobras had numerous chances to chip away at UV’s lead but William Polican and Shaquille Imperial missed their three-point tries and UV guard Gileant Delator sealed the Green Lancers’ win with a free-throw with 16.7 seconds left.
Froiland Maglasang led UV in scoring with 14 points, off of four triples, while Maestre and Coulibally had 12 markers each, the latter adding 16 rebounds, two steals and three blocked shots.
UV also played exceptional defense on SWU-Phinma’s phenomenal wingman Lamine Thiam, throwing numerous bodies at him, and forcing him to a subpar performance of just 13 points where he missed 11 of his 14 attempts from the floor. He did have 10 rebounds, three assists and four blocks. (SunStar Cebu)