University of the Visayas’ Bassiere Sackour (14) maneuvers inside the paint against a University of San Jose-Recoletos defender in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum last night. (CONTRIBUTED)
UV Green Lancers grab no. 1 spot with 77-70 victory over USJ-R Jaguars in Cesafi hoop
The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers took the early lead in the standings as they held on for a 77-70 victory over the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Green Lancers led by as many as 19 in the third period but the Jaguars fought and clawed their way back into the game before Liberian forward Bassiere Sackour and wingman Rey Suerte delivered the dagger buckets down the stretch.
Sackour finished with a monster double-double of 17 points and 19 rebounds while Suerte had 10 highlighted by back to back baskets that pushed their lead to seven, 75-68 with 1:19 to go.
The Lancers had a 56-37 lead as they blitzed the Jaguars with a 13-4 run midway through the third. But the Jaguars, 10 men and all, fought back with a 16-4 run that trimmed the deficit to seven, 53-60, heading to the last period. They last threatened at 68-71 after a clutch basket by RJ Dinolan.
However, Suerte retaliated with a lay-up off a strong baseline drive while getting fouled in the process. He missed the bonus free-throw but got the offensive rebound and put it back in to seal the victory for UV, its second in as many games.
Dinolan had 22 points and nine boards for USJ-R while Gastador had 18. USJ-R fell to 1-1.
The Green Lancers took control of the match early and led, 21-14, after the opening 10 minutes of play. USJ-R pulled to within four after a triple by new recruit John Pastias but UV refused to budge and extended their lead to 31-19 after scoring 10 unanswered points.
The Green Lancers drove the nail even deeper as they ended the first half with an uncontested lay-in from Suerte and a corner triple from Tristan Albina to build a 41-26 bulge.
In the juniors division, the Southwestern University-Phinma Baby Cobras made a rousing debut as they defeated the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, 72-64.
Jun Reign Bacullo sizzled with 23 points while Diether Quijada added 13.