The Arellano University Chiefs continued their hot streak with the Ormoc Invitational crown being their fifth title in a row in off-season action. (Contributed)
The University of the Visayas Green Lancers fell prey to NCAA powerhouse, Arellano University Chiefs, 79-82, to finish second in the Ormoc Chamber of Commerce Inc. 1st Invitation Basketball Tournament on Thursday night at the Superdome in Ormoc City.
The Green Lancers of head coach Gary Cortes played an uphill battle as they trailed from the get-go and stared at a 53-64 deficit heading to the last 10 minutes of action.
But the Green Lancers put up one heck of a fight and rallied behind the play of their front court players, import Bassieru Sackor and Monic Soliva, to tie the game at 66-all.
The game went through several more deadlocks, the last one at 79-all after UV forward Jerome Napao rammed in a basket.
The Chiefs, though, had the last laugh in the fiercely fought affair.
With time running out, Donald Gumaru lofted the ball up but missed. However, the smallest man on the team but the one with the most accolades, Jio Jalalon, grabbed the offensive board and put it back in to give the Chiefs an 81-79 lead, time down to two seconds.
The Lancers still had a shot to tie or possibly win the game but squandered their inbound play, giving Arellano University the victory.
Jalalon, a member of the Gilas Cadet team, led the way for the team of head coach Jerry Codinera, with 23 points.
Napao scored 25 to pace UV.
After the match, Cortes lauded his team’s resilient play, especially with Sackor playing limited minutes due to foul trouble.
But he saw a lot of room for improvement heading to the new Cesafi season in a few months time.
“The players are slowly learning the games of their teammates. Some even step when the reliable are not playing well. But still, we still are lacking in some departments such as maturity, timing, proper positioning and decision making,” added Cortes, whose team is looking to step up from its runner-up finish in the Cesafi finals last year.
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