UV Green Lancers expect tough road to fourth straight crown

UV head coach Gary Cortes talks to his players during practice at the UV gym. CDN Digital photo | Brian Ochoa

Cebu City, Philippines—The road to a fourth straight Cesafi title for the powerhouse University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers is not lined with roses.

Nevertheless, the region’s most successful collegiate basketball squad is going all in with a roster that features a mix of players, new and old.

With reigning Cesafi MVP Rey Anthony Suerte having already moved on to the University of the East, the Green Lancers have been left with a gaping hole that is expected to be filled by several players led by the returning Monic Soliva, a skilled power forward who was once named to the Mythical Five.

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Also pegged to have breakout seasons are talented forward Jancork Cabahug, team captain Ted Saga and sharpshooter Melvin Butohan.

Manning the backcourt is the fast and furious guard tandem of Sheldon Gahi and Gileant Delator while the man in the middle will be new foreign player, Lassina Coulibaly from the Ivory Coast.

UV head coach Gary Cortes knows the road ahead will be a difficult one and has prepared his wards accordingly.

“We will do our very best to still get the championship but all of the teams right now are very competitive so we cannot expect any easy games,” said Cortes, the man responsible for leading the Green Lancers to its last three titles.

Saga, a sweet-shooting lefty, says the team is bent on making up for their shortcomings in the preseason Partner’s Cup, where they were defeated by Southwestern University-Phinma.