Nostalgic in Sibugay team building: UV Lancers vow to be a better team

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas Green Lancers placed third in a pocket basketball tournament they joined recently in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay but more importantly reinvigorated their spirits and boosted their cohesiveness as a fighting force after the four-day event that had also been a team building occasion for them.

After blasting the veteral-laden Zanorte, 98-85, to settle for third place honors in the 1st Anamel 'Inday Amy' Olegario Mayor's Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Lancers held a two-day team building in Sibugay, the place where they had a similar activity in 2013 which is coincidentally the same year they last won the championship of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

"The choice of venue was intentionally picked by the team because of its instrumental role in UV's bagging the CESAFI championship last 2013. Basically, we did the same routine except for the open forum wherein all players vent out their sentiments over their teammates, which was a relief, I must say," said  UV assistant coach Van Halen Parmis, who temporarily handles the team with Jojo Maglasang as head coach Gary Cortes is on a business trip in the United States.

 "There were issues settled and it was our way to start anew before the season kicks off.  It is always nice to move around without having to carry something. Hopefully history, as far as the CESAFI 2013 is concerned, will repeat this year. We are keeping our fingers crossed and our hopes high," added Parmis.

Lancers team captain Josue Segumpan said what they have done in Sibugay truly binded them a group as they get to know each other more and instilled in them a sense of being a team.

"We had an open forum wherein each one of us shared what that can help or do to the team to reach out goals and to make the team chemistry better because we have a lot of rookies. We doubled out time in practice even though we had a game every night," said Segumpan, a vastly-improved shooter and slasher.

"As the captain ball of of the Green Lancers, our games in Sibugay really helped us because we were up against veterans players with vast experience in the pro league. We've competed with them well and it somehow helps us in developing our maturity in the game," added the sophomore guard.

After their week-long sojourn in the Zamboanga peninsula, Segumpan said he sees a relative improvement in the team and that they just have to go hard every practice and be consistent in everything they do as they bid to end two-year jinx in the CESAFI, which will kick off its Season 16 on August  6 at the Cebu Coliseum."I saw a lot of improvement in our team and the good thing is that everyone is willing to learn. We just need to be consistent and go hard every time during practice," said Segumpan. (FREEMAN)