UV is Cesafi 2023 men’s basketball champion, beats UC in Game 3

UV and UC players battle for the looseball in Game 3 of the Cesafi men’s basketball finals at the Cebu Coliseum on Saturday, December 16, 2023. CDN Digital photo | Christian Dave Cuizon

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers were crowned Cesafi men’s basketball champions anew after defeating the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 60-41, in the deciding Game 3 on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Green Lancers banked on a strong start and held on to the lead en route to winning its 15th title in the Cesafi men’s basketball tournament. It is UV head coach Gary Cortes’ fifth title since taking the coaching helm in 2015.

Here’s what Cortes had to say after the win:

UV also defeated UC for last year’s title.

READ MORE: Cesafi: UC stuns UV in Game 1 of men’s basketball finals

READ MORE: Cesafi finals: UV beats UC in Game 2, forces rubbermatch

Kent Ivo Salarda topscored for UV with 14 points while Raul Gentallan added 13.

Salarda was later named Cesafi men’s basketball Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The UV Green Lancers took off to hot start, erecting a 19-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

UC staged a rally in the second quarter behind John Linares. UV, however, managed to hold on to a 33-27 lead at the half.

The Green Lancers pulled away in the third, sparking a 12-0 run to lead by as many as 14, 45-31.

UV went into the fourth holding a 47-35 lead.

The Green Lancers would build another 14-point lead, 51-37, at the start of the fourth to pull away and never look back.

Linares led UC with 8 points.

/bmjo