CESAFI Partners' Cup: Lancers pummel Jaguars

CEBU, Philippines -  Inspired by the return of 6-foot-11 star center Greg Slaughter and a blistering third-quarter offensive, the Prime Asia-UV Green Lancers had little trouble in demolishing the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/USJ-R Jaguars, 60-46, in the 3rd CESAFI Partners’ Cup on Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Smarting from a stingy setback to Enervon/UC Webmasters last week, the Lancers of coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug vented their ire on the Jaguars, who apparently had an off-night coming from an upset loss to CDO Idol/USPF Panthers.

The Jaguars were in the fight only in the early goings of the second period when they locked the count at 22-all at the 4:04 mark as the red-hot Lancers held them scoreless in the next six minutes to rip the game apart with a 21-point advantage, 45-24, on a perimeter shot by Slaughter.

 Edwin Bibera broke USJ-R's silence with a three-point play to make it 27-45 with 3:22 left in the third period, but that was nothing as the Jaguars were heavily outscored by the Lancers in that stretch, 20-8.

Slaughter, who executed two powerful dunks, scored only seven points but it did not matter at all as the Lancers had a balanced scoring. Edrian Lao topped UV's scoring chart with 12 points, while Ritchum Dennison and Harold Cincoflores connived for 17 markers as they evened their win-loss record to 2-2 in a tie with USPF Panthers.

Armand Ponce and Ranulfo Malinao netted 12 points each for the Jaguars, who found themselves in unfamiliar territory at sixth place with only one win in three starts, so far.

The scores

Prime Asia/UV (60) - Lao 12, Dennison 9, Cincoflores 8, Slaughter 7, Cabahug 6, Mercader 6, Sendrijas 6, Olivares 4, Lasala 2

Ave Maria/USJ-R (46) - Ponce 12, Malinao 12, Bibera 9, Llera 3, Delfino 2, Amores 2, Villaver 2, Duran 2, Pateño 2    (THE FREEMAN)