The nine-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and last season’s runners-up, the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, forged a title showdown in the Bogo City Mayor’s Cup Preseason Basketball Tournament after they bested their respective opponents at the end of the elimination round on Friday evening at the Bogo City Sports Complex.
UV eked past the hard-fighting University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 71-65, while USC routed the University of Cebu Webmasters, 97-67.
The Green Lancers finished the eliminations with a unblemished 4-0 (win-loss) record while the Warriors ended in second place at 3-1.
The two squads were battling it out for the crown and the P80,000 cash prize that came with it as of press time. Dueling for third place honors were the Webmasters and the Jaguars.
The Lancers trailed at halftime, 31-35, but came alive in the third to surge ahead, 55-52. They then leaned on their veteran chops to hold off the resilient Jaguars and claimed the victory. Franz Arong led UV with 16 while former national youth team member Leonard Santillan added 13. Alfred Codilla also scored 10.
In the second game, the Warriors leaned on Cameroonian Shooster Olago, who carved up UC’s undersized frontline with 28 markers. The come-backing Ian Ortega submitted 15 points while veteran forward Nico Magat added 13.
THE SCORES::
UV (71) – Arong 16, Santillan 13, Codilla 10, Balabag 7, Napao 5, Soliva 5, Manzo 4, Aguirre 3, Segumpan 3, Cabañero 2, Suerte 2, Macion 1.
USJ-R (65) – Labares 14, Dinolan 10, Gastador 10, Villafranca 7, Risma 6, Mantilla 5, Navarra 4, Bayhonan 3, Senining 3, Peromingan 2, Moral 1.
QUARTER SCORES: 17-19; 31-35; 55-52; 71-65.
USC (97) – Olago 28, Ortega 15, Magat 13, Pepito 8, Rabat 8, Suarez 7, McAloney 7, Maconocido 5, Adlawan 4, Oleodo 3, Lim 0.
UC (67) – Puerto 17, Dacalos 9, Jabello 9, Culango 8, Santander 6, Montilla 5, Suelto 4, Butohan 4, Igloria 3, Dumat-ol 2, Mayol 0, Codilla 0, Grafilo 0, Luzares 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 23-16; 53-36; 74-54; 97-67.