Lancers vs Cobras in final

SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte, Philippines — The University of the Visayas Green Lancers and Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras both banked on a strong endgame punch to knock out separate foes and set up a title showdown in the 2017 St. Isidore Parish Fiesta Inter-Collegiate Basketball Invitational Cup yesterday.

The Lancers held the University of Cebu Webmasters scoreless in the final two minutes of the contest to pull off a 68-55 win, while the Cobras turned to the late heroics of Giovannie Luz and Gerald Fernandez to terminate the University of San Carlos Warriors via a 60-58 thriller.

The Lancers and the Cobras, the bitterest of rivals in the history of Cebu hoopdom, earned the right to clash for the championship for topping the single round robin elimination with identical 3-1 win-loss records.

Reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) MVP Rey Anthony Suerte topscored with 19 points for the Lancers, who gamely thwarted repeated comeback attempts by the gritty Webmasters until the closing minutes of the contest.

Trailing by 10 points, 38-48, the Yayoy Alcoseba-mentored Webmasters rallied back with finesse to crawl within just a hairline , 47-48, with just 34 seconds gone by in the final quarter.

The Lancers quickly regained an eight-point lead, 58-50, but the Webmasters stayed within striking range, 55-60, with 2:24 left to play.

However, that proved to be UC's last gasp of breath as the Lancers went on to score the game's last eight points to seal their final entry.

Skipper Josue Segumpan backed up Suerte with 12 points, while Tristan Albina and Jayson Balabag each scored 10 for the Lancers, who were without Jerome Napao who was banned from the tournament because of the disqualifying foul he incurred during their game against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers the other day.

On the other hand, the Cobras restricted USC to a measly four points in the last three-minute zone of the contest to pull the rug from under the Warriors.

In control after gaining a four-point headway at halftime, 28-24, the Warriors appear headed to victory with a 53-44 advantage in the final seven minutes of play.

Still on top at 56-51, the Warriors' offensive engine  suddenly conked out mainly because of the Cobras porous defensive.

After Arnel Molina towed the Cobras to just a hairline, 55-56, Fernandez drilled in a booming 3-pointer before Luz hit a long-range jumper to hand the Phinma-backed squad with a 60-56 edge with only 15 seconds to go.

In the ensuing sequence, Johnrel Saycon was fouled and nailed two free throws to pull the Warriors within 58-60 but the Cobras wisely dribbled the ball away in the last nine seconds to complete their huge comeback.

Luz was the lone double-digit scorer for the Cobras with 10 points but it did not matter as their balanced offensive and aggressive defense spelled big difference.

The scores

First game

UV (68) – Suerte 19, Segumpan 12, Albina 10, Balabag 10, Soliva 6, Gahi 5, Sackor 4, Testa 2

UC (55) – Butohan 15, Camara 10, Puerto 9, Delator 6, Olmilla 4, Tagudin 3, Jabello 2, Dacalos 2, Ludovice 2, Bautista 2

Quarterscores: 1610;31-31;48-42;68-55

Second game

SWU (60) – Luz 10, Bayhonan 9, Ugsang 9, Fernandez 8,  Polican 7, Imperial 5, Molina 4, Roncal 3, Pardo 3, Nazareno 2

USC (58) – Oleodo 15, Saycon 10, Mangubat 9, Oguis 7, Araw-araw 5, Ecarma 5, Aranas 3, Labiste 2, Cabanog 2, Marata 2, Rabat 1

Quarterscores:16-16;24-28;44-47;60-58 (FREEMAN)