Lancers shoot for second win

CEBU, Philippines - Defending titleholders University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers seek back-to-back wins while four-time juniors champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles train their sights on a delightful hat-trick in the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers will go up against the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers in the main game at 6:45 p.m., while the Magis Eagles hope to spread their wings again when they take on the Don Bosco Greywolves in the 5:15 curtain raiser.

Fighting with a wounded pride, the Lancers bounced back from a season-opening 73-78 loss to the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors with finesse en route to a 72-61 whacking of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters last Sunday.

Sharpshooting guard Tristan Albina charted 17 points and Jerome Napao added 11 in the Lancers' wire-to-wire victory, never allowing the Webmasters to have a taste of lead from the onset.

In complete control, the wards of coach Gary Cortes went ahead by as many as 14 points in the third period. The Webmasters could only crawl within 64-57 as the Lancers held on their ground to breeze through a 11-point triumph.

Against the lightweight Panthers, the Lancers are a shoo-in to make it two games in a row.

Aside from Albina, Napao and their Liberian import Bassieru Sackor, the Lancers can also rely on reigning MVP Rey Suerte, Josue Segumpan, Monic Soliva,  Coleen Testa, promising rookie Jancork Cabahug and flashy playmaker Sheldon Gahi, who will report back for duty after serving a one-game suspension.

They are up against the Panthers, who haven't shown any signs of being a legitimate fighting force despite being armed with a 6-foot-9 Nigerian reinforcement in Rich Managor. They hurdled their opening assignment against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, but got pulverized by the Warriors, 67-85, in their previous match.

Still, the Panthers will count on Managor to provide leadership to their local crew led by All-Stars Lyndon Colina and Roy Quiachon.  When needed, then can also turn to Kenneth Cada, Clyde Avancena, Edwin Villarta, Mike Patalinghug, Mark Tenebroso, Rodelio Cauba and John Alocillo.

In the juniors division, the Magis Eagles hope to break away from a 2-0 tie with the UV Baby Lancers and the Univesity of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars.

They are expected to face little trouble in achieving that goal as they take on the Greywolves, who are coming off a gut-wrenching 69-88 setback at the hands of the Baby Lancers.

The likes of Andrew Velasco, Patrick Yu, Justin Javelosa, Christian Manaytay, Alex Visser, Koko Tuadles, Andre Chua and Benedict Yu will once again carry the fight for the Magis Eagles, while the Greywolves will heavily depend on Jayson Abejo, JB Damolo, Grenald Malubay, JM de la Torre and Jomari Ranuco among others. (FREEMAN)