UV Lancers start 4-peat bid

CEBU, Philippines — Reigning grandslam champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers begin their quest for a rare four-peat as they go up against the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors in the seniors division of the 19th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum today.

UV head coach Gary Cortes said winning a fourth straight title is something that they have really trained for but in the same breath they have also prepared themselves for a tough challenge from their rivals who will surely gang up on them.

“We have trained for that but I’m sure the other teams are there not only to participate but also to compete,” said Cortes, as if downplaying their chances of keeping the throne they owned since 2016. “As they say, it’s easier said than done.”

This time around, Cortes has to make do playing without some of his brightest stars such as Josue Segumpan, Jerome Napao and Jayson Balabag who have graduated already and are now seeking greener pastures elsewhere.

And despite the departure of two-time MVP Rey Anthony Suerte who opted to spend his last playing year with the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in the UAAP and the exit of sharpshooter Tristan Albina, the Lancers remain a formidable fighting force owing to the presence of a slew of veteran cagers in their roster.

Led by Lassina Coulibally, their 6-foot-8 foreign student-athlete from Ivory Coast, the Lancers still have wily pointguards Sheldon Gahi and Gileant Delator as well as big men Jancork Cabahug, Michael Maestre, Ted Saga, Monic Soliva, Jossier Hassan, and Melvin Butohan at their disposal.

The Lancers will also unleash their prized rookie in Gabriel Cometa and two promising recruits in Clyde Drexler Avancena from the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) and Jushoa Gellacone from the University of Cebu (UC).

At 6:45 tonight, the Lancers will be taking on the Warriors who are seeking a follow-up of their 80-75 conquest of the USPF Panthers last September 1.

USC coach Bong Abad will again squeeze the most from their foreign reinforcement Somty Managor and the likes of Jules Langres, Froilan Mangubat, Magic Marata, Roosevelt Jelinggao, Kurt Trangia, Jomari Ranuco, and Kenneth Brillo as they seek back-to-back wins.

In the juniors division, the Don Bosco Greywolves shoot for their second straight victory as they battle the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Baby Cobras in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

The Greywolves escaped past the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 60-57, during the August 31 season-opener, while the Baby Cobras absorbed an 80-94 beating at the hands of the USPF Baby Panthers. (FREEMAN)