CESAFI: Green Lancers hold off Cobras to extend series

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The third time is the charm for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers as they finally won against bitter rival Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma, 65-53, in the semifinal round of the CESAFI Collegiate division, Sunday night, October 9, at the New Cebu Coliseum.

In the first game, the defending champion University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors kept their finals hope alive by coming back from a heartbreaking loss last Saturday with an 81-70 outlasting of last year’s third placer University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

Not only did the Green Lancers end the winning streak of the Cobras but they also denied SWU from advancing early into the Best of 5 Finals Series.

Alfred Codilla towed the 11-time champion Green Lancers to their second win in the semifinal round with a total of 20 points, 7 rebounds and two assists.

The UV Green Lancers also benefited from the good performance of Jan Monic Soliva who finished with 12 points.

The Green Lancers tight defense successfully contained the two-time Most Valuable Player Mark Jayven Tallo to just 12 points. Although he did pull down 5 rebounds and managed two assists.

The USC Warriors, on the other hand, was led by Victor Emmanuel Rabat with 15 points, one rebound, two steals.

Ralph Jude “RJ” Dinolan was once again helmed the USJ-R Jaguars with 23 points, 6 rebounds and one assist. All for naught, however.

The spectators were treated to another exciting battle between two teams expected to meet for this year’s title, a game that saw 5 deadlocks and 7 lead changes, the last at 2:31 in the second quarter on a shot by Soliva, 40-39.

From there, the UV Green Lancers never relinquished the lead enroute to getting a big chance of clinching of the finals ticket.

The game became heated several times with Rolly Bravo thrown out of the game with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter. He was caught by the referee punching Segumpan.       

Both coaches—Raul Yayoy Alcoseba for SWU-Phinma Cobras and Gary Cortes for UV Green Lancers also engaged in a thrash talk with less than two minutes in the ballgame.  

The last day of the semifinal round will be held on Thursday, October 13.

Scores

First game

USC Warriors (81) – Rabat 15, Ntumba 14, Oleodo 11, Munez 10, Tagapan 9, Laguyo 7, Catapusan 6, Ecarma 2, Tan 2, Langres 1. 

USJ-R (70) – Dinolan 23, Mantilla 17, Peromingan 8, Gastador 7, Navarra 6, Nunez 6, Catiloc 3. 

Second game

UV Green Lancers (65) – Codilla 20, Soliva 12, Sackor 7, Napao 6, Segumpan 5, Suerte 5, Balabag 4, Gahi 4, Albina 2.  

SWU-Phinma Cobras (53) – Nzuzi 12, Tallo 12, Ortega 10, Luz 7, Racho 4, Barte 3, Bregondo 3. – Rappler.com