Coach Salacut: Defense, Justiniani factor key to victory

CEBU - In the first two games of the series, the USJ-R Jaguars were pulverized into smithereens by the UV Green Lancers mainly because of their failure to diffuse UV’s atomic bomb in 6-foot-11 beanpole Greg Slaughter.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place in Game 3, the Jaguars responded to the challenge with aplomb and succeed in finding antidote to UV’s most destructive weapon - defense and a breakout performance by senior guard Luther Luke Justiniani.

Last night at the standing-room-only Cebu Coliseum, the Jaguars handcuffed Slaughter to a season-low two points in their record-establishing 86-53 annihilation of the Lancers to stay and fight for another day in the 2008 CESAFI basketball finals. The Lancers still lead the best-of-series at two games to one.

No other team has beaten UV by 33 points in the league’s eight-year history. Also, USJ-R’s 38-point lead, 87-49, with a minute left in the contest is by far the largest enjoyed by any team over the formidable Lancers.

“Defense was the key to our victory,” said USJ-R head coach Edito Salacut in an interview at their dugout. “Slaughter really caught us by surprise in the first two games that is why we made the necessary adjustments on our defensive pattern.”

 Salacut said their plan was to double-team Slaughter and force him to kick out the ball to his open teammates. “Our strategy is to double-team Slaughter and force him to kick the ball out. We want to let him score as much as he could so long as we are able to check their outside gunners,” Salacut said.

Luckily for the Jaguars, they contained both. They held off Slaughter to a measly two points, a far cry from his 26.0 points average in Games 1 and 2. Likewise, UV’s other sharp-shooter Ritchum Dennison could only submit two points in the scorebook.

“It’s their defense and will to win. They never give up despite they’re 0-2 down in the series. The the spirit of the Josenians. Our motto si ‘Adelante” which means forward. We never back down,” said decorated M. Lhuillier coach Raul “Yayoy” D. Alcoseba, a USJ-R alumnus who watched the one-sided duel at the ringside.

Still, Salacut said their blowout triumph should not be a cause for celebration because they’re still down in the series.

“We’re still down in the series and I know UV will come back strong. I can’t say what will happen in Game 4. We will just do everything to the best of our capabilities. The series isn’t over year so there’s no reason for us to surrender,” said the outspoken Salacut.

Aside from defense, Justiniani deserved an honorable mention for pumping up life to USJ-R’s flickering championship hopes. After being limited to 11 points on an embarrassing 0-of-21 from the field in the first two games, Justiniani was oozing with fire to topscore for the Jaguars with a game-high 25 points.

“This time, I did not wilt under pressure. I kept my focus in the game unlike in the previous matches where I was so tensed. I was also challenged by my poor performance in the past games and I’m happy that I delivered and contributed something good for my team,” said Justiniani, who is serving his last playing year with USJ-R in the CESAFI.

For UV mentor Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, the Jaguars deserved the victory for putting up one great fight.

“It was meant to be for USJ-R. They really do their best and give us a good fight. And they deserved it,” said Cabahug in a text message. “The players learned their lesson and mistake.”

Game 4 is set tomorrow still at the Cebu Coliseum and it’s one big chance for UV to prove they are not seven-time champion for nothing. (THE FREEMAN)