Baby Lancers make PSSBC debut today
In full force, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers led by their team manager Gerald Anthony 'Samsam' Gullas Jr., coach Gary Cortes and athletic director Chris Mejarito pay a courtesy visit on UV Executive Vice President Jose 'Dodong' R. Gullas (in peach polo shirt) to present the championship trophy they won in basketball event of the 2nd Asia-Pacific University Games (APUG) last Monday at the Cebu Coliseum.
CEBU, Philippines — The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers set their eyes on history as they kick off their campaign in the 6th Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championships (PSSBC) Dickies Underwear Cup this afternoon at the SGS Stadium in Quezon City.
UV is the first provincial team to see action in the PSSBC since its inception in 2012 and the Baby Lancers want to make the most out of the opportunity.
The Baby Lancers have been invited to the annual high school league by virtue of their being the juniors champion of this year's 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season. They bagged their first CESAFI crown since 2011 in style, dethroning four-time titleholders Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in their epic finale three months ago.
"This is the first time for us to join this kind of tournament. We feel like the underdogs," said Baby Lancers assistant coach Gerald Ylaya. "We still don't know what else to expect. But we know what we can bring and we will be playing our hearts out."
Led by CESAFI Most Valuable Player Beirn Anthony Laurente, the Baby Lancers also pin their historic bid on Joshua Yerro, Jim Paul Amistoso, Gabriel Cometa, Roosvelt Jelianggao, Froiland Maglasang, Jearolan Omandac, Jhiey Paraldo, Mike Parilla, Justine Jake Rosete and Prince Jaspher Tano among others.
In their PSSBC debut, the Baby Lancers will go up against Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) Red Robins at 2:30 pm today.
UV and MIT are in Group C together with Paco Citizens Academy Foundation (PCAF). The Baby Lancers are scheduled to meet PCAF at 3:15 pm on Sunday.
Reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern University, many-time NCAA titlist San Beda College and Manila Patriotic School comprise Group A, erstwhile champ Chiang Kai Shek College, former UAAP titlist National University and Colegio San Juan de Letran compose Group B, while NCAA champion De La Salle Greenhills makes up Group D alongside former tournament champions Hope Christian High School and San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
They will play in a single round robin format. The top two teams from each bracket will advance to the quarterfinals set on December 19.
The sudden-death championship will be played on December 21, with the winner pocketing P50,000 aside from the bragging rights as the best high school ballclub in the country. (FREEMAN)
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