CEBU, Philippines — It may just be a simple victory in the eyes of many but it’s actually the start of the healing process of the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers from an embarrassing debacle.
The Baby Lancers swiftly bounced back from a loss to forget with a 57-48 conquest of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles in the juniors division of the 19th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Coming off an ignominious 46-87 defeat at the hands of defending champions University of Cebu (UC) Juniors Webmasters, the Baby Lancers fought with renewed vigor this time, dictating the pace of the match from the onset and at one point took a seven-point lead, 37-30, late in the third period.
The Magis Eagles, however, responded with a 9-2 blitz to forge a 39-all standoff heading into the last 10-minute zone of the contest.
After a quick five points by Vince Tangkay to open the final period that gave the Magis Eagles a 44-42 edge, small but terrible playmaker Jay Alilin dropped two 3-point bombs in an 8-0 rally that suddenly pushed the Baby Lancers on top by six, 50-44. Alilin scored all his seven points in the last quarter.
The Magis Eagles came within striking range at 48-50 but that was their last gasp of breath as the Baby Lancers closed the game with a seven-to-nothing spurt.
Albert Sacayan finished with 17 points spiked with four insurance free throws, while Samuel Melicor contributed 12 markers for the Baby Lancers, who are moving on positively after absorbing their worst ever beating in history.
Earlier, Paul Apolonio and Blaire Bulsa each scored 14 while Winston Biligil added 13 as the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons barged into the win column after spanking the UC Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus, 68-60.