Kernn Sesante, UC Webmasters head coach. | Photo from the UC Men’s Basketball Team Facebook page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters head coach, Atty. Kernn Sesante, vowed to give the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers a good fight as face each other in a finals rematch in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) Season 23 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.
The UC Webmasters hasn’t defeated the Green Lancers since the finals last year where the latter bagged their 14th Cesafi men’s basketball title after sweeping their best-of-three finals series.
This time, Sesante pinned his hopes on his roster comprised of hardened veterans, promising rookies, and reliable transferees who he believes can take on the Green Lancers.
READ MORE: UV’s Cortes expects tough finals battle against UC
“Makita nato based sa atong duwa sa eliminations, UV is a very strong team. We have no expectations, but we will give them a good fight. We are hoping nga we can make the game close para ang breaks of the end game adto sa amo-a,” Sesante told CDN Digital.
Their first meeting ended with UV winning by 12 points, 67-55, last November 11. Despite this, UC showed some fight by leading in the first period, before they ultimately bowed down to the defending champions of head coach Gary Cortes.
According to Sesante, he strongly believes that his team gained a lot of experience from their finals appearance last year against UV, despite being on the losing end.
He said that his players this season are more composed and more cohesive and their 9-1 elimination round record speaks for itself.
Also, Sesante believes that UV lacks the veteran presence on the floor after its former team captain Tedd Saga and finals MVP Jiesel Tarossa spent their last playing year with the team last season.
“We hoped so we learned something from our finals last year against UV. I hope we gained something from that experience. Mas naay composure atong mga bata karon nga season. I just hope for the best, we know undefeated pa si UV for this season, let’s just see and come what may,” Sesante explained.
“We have a better team this time in terms of having more veterans. We have one year of experience and siguro si UV sad without Saga and without Tarossa, wala silay super veterans, we hope to make the game close and let’s see.”
The Webmasters will rely on veterans’ Jhiey Paraldo, Michael Diaz, Danie Boy Lapiz, Regie Dajab, Jasper Pacana, and Mark Ecal.
Sesante also pointed out Zareygel Rosano and Roosevelt Jelianggao as the team’s solid front court defenders who he believes can contain some of UV’s scoring machines such as Kent Ivo Salarda and AJ Sacayan.
Game one of UV and UC’s Best-of-Three finals series will tip off at 5 p.m.
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