IN WHAT can only be described as the most stunning upset of the season, the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars (USJ-R) razed a 14-point fourth period deficit and scored 14 straight points down the stretch to upend the mighty University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 73–67, in the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Green Lancers had the inside track on the victory as they dominated the shaded lane behind the relentless play of Liberian forward, Bassiere Sackour, and Jayson Balabag who swished two free throws and canned a bucket to give UV a 59–45 lead early in the fourth.
But speed kills, and USJ-R used their superior quickness to harass the surprisingly rattled Lancers into careless passes and hurried shots, which combined with shotmaking of Jaybie Mantilla, Tricky Peromingan, Miguel Gastador and RJ Dinolan proved to be a catastrophic cocktail.
The win boosted USJ-R’s campaign to finish in the top four as they now hold a 5–3 (win-loss) record. The resurgent Peromingan and Dinolan had 18 points each while Gastador and Mantilla notched 16 apiece with the latter scoring 10 in the final stanza.
UV, which got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Sackour, dropped to 6–2.