Rey Suerte of UV goes for a layup against the USPF defense in a Cesafi seniors game at the Cebu Coliseum.
cdn photo/lito tecson
THE REIGNING title holder University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers started slow but finished strong to defeat the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 92-79, in the 17th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the New Cebu Coliseum.
League MVP Rey Suerte broke out of an early slump and had his best game of the season so far with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals to help UV win their second game in a row after losing their season-opener.
Josue Segumpan had 16 spiked by four triples, Tristan Albina scored all 13 of his points in the first half, Jerome Napao chipped in 12 while Monic Soliva logged in a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds to boost UV’s record to 2-1 (win-loss).
The Panthers drew first blood as they led 20-18 after the first period but wilted in the face of a 20-8 onslaught capped by seven straight points by Albina that gave the Green Lancers a 50-38 lead at the turn.
UV kept on pushing the tempo in the second half and ramped their lead to a high of 24, 71-47, thanks to a 14-2 blast that featured a gorgeous hanging lay-up by Suerte.
USPF trimmed the lead to 10, 79-89, but ran out of time to lose its second straight after opening the season with a victory over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University.