(UPDATED)--The University of the Visayas Green Lancers extended their title-retention campaign after they dealt the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras a resounding 73-59 defeat in Game Two of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum on Thursday, November 21, 2019.
The deciding Game Three will be played on Friday, November 22, at 6:00 p.m.
UV pounced on the foul woes of SWU-Phinma’s prolific foreign student-athlete, Lamine Thiam, who picked up his fourth foul with 3:19 remaining. That put a stop to the Cobras’ 14-4 salvo that put them within one, 38-39, after trailing by 13 early in the third canto.
With Thiam sitting on the sidelines, the Green Lancers rattled off a 10-2 run capped off by a step-back three-pointer by rookie sensation Gabriel Cometa that gave them a 49-40 lead heading to the final canto.
UV then turned to veteran forward Monic Soliva who scored six straight points on an array of post moves and fadeaway jumpers that put the Cobras out of their misery as the Green Lancers established a 58-41 lead with just five minutes remaining in the ballgame.
Lass Coulibally, UV’s sentinel from the Ivory Coast, feasted inside the shaded lane as he scored 13 points and hauled down 21 rebounds. He also anchored their team’s defense, piling up four blocks and two steals.
Soliva ended up with 12 while Jancork Cabahug added 11 markers.
Shaquille Imperial led SWU-Phinma with 15 points. (SunStar Cebu)