UV’s Bassier Sackor (left) and UC’s Frederick Elombi battling for a rebound in Game 2 of the Finals.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
One team kept their composure while the other did not. That was the story of Game Two.
Come Game Three today at the Cebu Coliseum, the coaches of the defending titleholder University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and upstart
University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters assert that the coveted championship will boil down to who will keep their emotions in check in spite of the emotionally charged atmosphere.
UV general Gary Cortes said that while they were the aggressors in the second half of Game Two, they still managed to keep their composure. This, he said, was a huge factor that led to their 77-66 win that equalized the best-of-three series at 1-1.
“If we maintain our aggressiveness on defense as well as our composure, I’m fairly confident that we will do just fine,” said Cortes, who is aiming to steer the Green Lancers to their second straight title in his second year on the job as head coach.
On the other side, Alcoseba rued the precious chance to finish off the Green Lancers after they held a 48-38 lead along with all the momentum after coming back from a 9-21 deficit.
All that momentum came to a screeching halt the moment star guard Justine Dacalos fouled out after receive his fourth and fifth fouls with 5:02 left in the third.
“We lost our composure. The momentum was on our side. But when Justine got a technical foul that disqualified him, that was a big blow,” said Alcoseba.
UV took full control not long after with a 13-0 run that put the team in front for good, leaving Alcoseba to think about all the hurried shots, missed open players and careless fouls that helped bury their chances of completing an unprecedented sweep of the mighty Green Lancers.
But hope springs eternal and Alcoseba asked but one thing of his wards in Game Three: “I want them to keep their composure. If we do, then we’ll be able to keep it close in the endgame. From there, anything can happen,” he said.
UC is aiming for its first title since 2011 when reigning PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo patrolled the lanes while current San Miguel Beerman Brian Heruela manned the perimeter for the Webmasters.
UV is shooting for its 12th title in the college division, and a sweep of the basketball titles this season, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 2007.
The Baby Lancers last Thursday won the high school crown against Ateneo de Cebu.