Lancers, Panthers start bid in cash-rich Bayugan hoop

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur , Philippines— With high hopes and full of confidence, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers open their campaign in the Kim Lope Asis Mayor's Cup Basketball Invitational 2017 here at the Lope Asis Memorial Gymnasium today.

Of the two Cebu contenders, the Lancers have the heavier workload as they take on the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the opening match at 9 am, then face the Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan Crusaders in the nightcap at 8:30 pm.

It will be the Panthers though who will challenge first the Crusaders at 1 pm, while the Generals, after their duel with the Lancers, will face off with the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers at 7pm.

"It's another chance for us to gauge the cohesiveness of our team and determine how strong we are as a unit at this point," said Lancers head coach Gary Cortes.

The reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) champions are on a roll right now.

After ruling the St. Isidore Parish Fiesta Cup Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament a month ago in Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte, the Lancers held their ground against a tough field of opposition on the way to a surprise first runner-up finish in the 'Araw ng Quezon' inter-commercial tiff in Bukidnon last week.

Still, the Lancers downplayed their chances of dominating the cash-rich Bayugan joust that offers over half a million pesos in cash prize to the top performers.

"It's a different ballgame in Bayugan because we're going up against top teams from Manila and a champion team from Mindanao. But as what we've done in the past, we will just give our best shot in every game we take," said Cortes.

On the contrary, the Panthers have set a concrete goal in the four-day tilt.

"We're aiming to make it to the top four. That's our mindset. We may be the underdogs but we'll give them one big fight," assured Panthers coach Albert Alocillo.

The five entries will play in a single round robin, with the top two qualifiers fighting it out for the title in a winner-take-all affair. Teams No.3 and No.4 will battle for third place.

The champion will take home P200,000, while the second to fourth will pocket P150,000, P100,000 and P75,000, respectively. The fifth placer will receive a consolation prize of P50,000. (FREEMAN)