Lancers shackle Warriors in Asia-Pacific U Games

CEBU, Philippines — Rey Anthony Suerte scored 17 and Jan Monic Soliva pumped in 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers held the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors scoreless in the final 90 seconds of the contest to grind out a 92-78 victory at the start of the 2nd Asia-Pacific University Games (APUG) basketball event yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

It was just the start of the six-day tournament participated in by three nations, yet the fans were already treated to a championship-like match as the two protagonists figured in a nip and tuck battle for most of the way.

The roller-coaster showdown saw the Warriors taking the lead for the last time at 75-74 as they halted their own momentum when Froilan Mangubat was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul for swinging an elbow against Soliva with 3:42 left to play.

Soliva calmly sank his twin gift shots and moments later Melvin Butohan scored on a barreling drive to put the Lancers ahead for good at 78-75.

After the Lancers increased their lead to six at 82-76, the Warriors threatened for the last time at 78-82 with only 1:32 to go in the game as Butohan notched five points in a game-closing 10-0 blitz that sealed UV’s resounding triumph.

 Jerome Napao chipped in 13 points while team captain Josue Segumpan banged in 10 markers for the Lancers, who will shoot for their second straight win when they take on the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in today’s main game at 6:30 p.m. (FREEMAN)