Eddiegul Extols UE win vs. UV Lancers

Cebu First District Rep. and University of the Visayas president Eduardo “Eddiegul” R. Gullas has extended his congratulations to the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors for defeating the UV Green Lancers in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) Round of Sweet 16 the other night at The Arena in San Juan.

“I would like to congratulate UE [for winning over the UV Lancers]. It’s not easy to beat UV. But sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. We can’t win them all,” said Gullas. “I have not seen the game. I wish I had but it doesn’t matter.”

“All three Cebu teams lost. It’s really not a good year for us in CCL, but hope springs eternal,” added Gullas.

The UV Lancers dropped a 62-68 decision to the UE Warriors, becoming the last of the three Cebu qualifiers to bow out of the tournament. The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USC) Jaguars earlier lost to San Beda Red Lions, 98-83, while the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors got axed by UAAP heavyweight La Salle Green Archers, 71-91.

Like Gullas, UV coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug, who was a teammate of UE mentor Dindo Pumaren during their Purefoods days in the PBA, took the Lancers’ debacle graciously and in quite dignity.

“Our main goal was to improve our runner-up finish last year. It’s just unfortunate we lost in our very first game,” said Cabahug, who steered the UV Lancers to an unprecedented eight straight CESAFI championship.

It was the first time in CCL’s six-year history that UV was booted out in the first round . Last season, the Lancers made it to the final, but fell prey to the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“We have no one to blame but ourselves. We did not execute our gameplan properly. I instructed my players to always look for Slaugther, instead they took unsolicited three-point shots. They also committed crucial errors towards the end that really cost us the game,” said Cabahug. “But they’re still a young team and they still have a lot to learn.”—EBV (THE FREEMAN)