Lancers, Warriors to renew hardcourt rivalry in Carcar

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas Green Lancers and the University of San Carlos Warriors bring their rivalry to southern Cebu as they see action in the 1st Mayor Nice Apura Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament set to kick off on November 4 at the Carcar City Sports Complex.

UV and USC are coming off a championship showdown in the 16th Cebu Schools Athletic Association, Inc. season, with the Lancers dethroning the Warriors, three games to one, in their best-of-five series to win their first CESAFI title in three years and 11th overall since 2000.

The Lancers and the Warriors will again meet on November 5 yet as they will take on separate foes on opening day. The Lancers will go up against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, while the Warriors will battle the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats.

The University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers will take a bye on the first day.

"I am very grateful that the CESAFI teams have accepted our invitation. It's another thing that we can gather a huge crowd in our league," said Carcar City Mayor Nice Apura during a press conference yesterday at Sunburst-One Mango.

Tournament director Julie Flores said the CESAFI rules do not necessarily apply even if all the entries are coming from Cebu's premieter inter-school athletic league.

"We are not that strict with regards to our rules. As long as they are enrolled be it in the first or second semesters of the current school year, a player is qualified to play for the school he represents," said Flores.

The five contending squads will play in a single round robin format, with the top two finishers slugging it out for the championship in a winner-take-all affair. The third and fourth will fight for third place.

The champion will take home P50,000, while the second to fourth will receive P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000, respectively. EBV (FREEMAN)