Lancers rebound in style; Panthers stun Yayoy’s UC

SAINT BERNARD, So. Leyte, Philippines — The University of the Visayas Green Lancers bounced back from an opening day heart-breaker in style, while the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers dropped a bombshell after two days of action in the 2017 St. Isidore Parish Fiesta Inter-Collegiate Basketball Invitational Cup.

After giving up a 75-78 decision to the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras, the Gary Cortes-mentored Lancers stormed back into contention with blowout victories over the Panthers and the University of San Carlos Warriors.

The Lancers  barged into the win column via a 78-59 shellacking of the Panthers, then followed it up with a masterful 96-64 demolition of the Warriors to spring into the solo lead with a 2-1 record.

In sharp contrast to their match against the Panthers, the Lancers had a tentative start against the Warriors resulting into a 14-21 deficit with just two minutes and a half gone by in the second period.

The Lancers, however, suddenly picked their offensive rhythm and responded with a scorching 20-6 run to wrest the upperhand at halftime, 34-27.

Things got worse for the Warriors when their bull-strong forward Julius Cavadis was thrown out of the game after being whistled for a punching foul against UV import Bassieru Sackor at 8:06 in the third period. The Lancers led by only three at that point, 37-34.

Cavadis, who tried his luck back here in Cebu after a short stint with Arellano University in the UAAP, is banned for the rest of the tournament. He's also fined P3,000 that will be given to Sackor as stipulaled in the league rules.

That turned out to be an ill omen for the Warriors.

Moments after the exit of Cadavis, reigning CEFAFI MVP Rey Suerte sank four consecutive 3-pointers in just a two-minute span as the Lancers ripped the game apart with an imposing 69-49 bulge at the end of the third quarter.

The Lancers even grew hotter as the game progressed on the way to lead by as much as 34 points, 96-62, in the closing seconds of the contest.

Suerte finished with 20 points, while Jayson Balabag chipped in with 14 markers for the Lancers, who now only need to get past the University of Cebu Webmasters to advance into the final. They will clash at 9 am today.

Later in the day, USPF of coach Albert Alocillo literally played like wounded Panthers against the Webmasters in an attempt to snap their two-game skid .

And they succeeded.

Banking on the endgame heroics of CD Avancena, Kenneth Cada and Mike Patalinghug, the Panthers went on to tame Yayoy Alcoseba's UC Webmasters, 83-76, in what is  by far the biggest upset in the three-day tilt.

The Panthers nearly blew their chances away as they squandered a 69-62 advantage with still 3:47 left to play.

The Webmasters staged a daring fightback anchored on an 11-0 run to grab the driver's seat, 73-69, but Patalinghug, Avancena and Cada  came to USPF's rescue, conspiring in a retaliatory 11-2 attack to put the Panthers back on top by five, 80-75, on Cada's trey with only 27 seconds remaining.

The Webmasters never recovered from there to absorb their first loss in two starts. They kicked off their campaign with a 90-74 rout of the Cobras, Alcoseba's former team, behind the sterling performances of Melvin Butohan and their 6-foot-8 Malian reinforcement Adama Camara.

Avancena topscored for the Panters with 20 points, while RR Cauba, Cada and Patalinghug finished with 28 points combined. (FREEMAN)