Lancers upset Jaguars to three-peat Cesafi title

USJR basketball 1

CEBU CITY—University of the Visayas (UV) brought home the championship title after outplaying University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 74-61, in Game Three of the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball finals last October 29 at the Cebu Coliseum.

With seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Tricky Peromingan sank a lay-up to carry the Jaguars to a tie, 59-59, from a 13-point deficit. Jafet Claridad then clapped back with a three-pointer to continue the Lancers’ lead, controlling the game for the remaining time.

Rey Anthony Suerte dealt the final blow to the Jaguars after landing a three-pointer and lay-up to secure the win, 73-61. Suerte was declared this season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), finishing with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists.

UV Green Lancers head coach Gary Cortes expressed his pride for his team.

“Ang dedication sa mga player ug determination naa, that’s why ana ko nila [na] daogon nato ni kay kaya ra gyud ni,” (The dedication and detemination of the players were there, that is why I told them that we can win this game) said Cortes.

Meanwhile, USJ-R Jaguars head coach Leode Garcia explained that the Lancers’ prior experience in the championship gave them the upper hand.

“Kon maabot man gani ta ani na level sa duwa, like sa championship, kailangan prepared gyud kon unsay angay buhaton,” (If we have reached this level, this championship, we have to be prepared of what we should do) said Garcia on their needed improvements for next year’s Cesafi tournament.

Team captain Tricky Peromingan also explained that they lost their composure as a team when they felt pressured playing against the defending champions.

“Of course, all of us fought hard. Wala pod mi basta basta nagpapildi. Ang sa akoa kay next year, mas mag-improve akoang leadership,” (We gave our best to win. We need to improve for next year, especially in terms of my leadership) said Peromingan.

Peromingan also said that their game plan was not properly executed during the fourth quarter, allowing the Lancers to rain open three-pointers on them.

“Among game plan unta kay dili unta sila ipa three-points. Bahala’g two-points lang kay mas labaw man [unta] mi kung ingon ana among gameplay,” (Supposedly, our game plan was not to allow them to score three-points. We were still ahead of them even if they score two-points) Peromingan added.

Both Peromingan and Coach Garcia are thankful to the Josenian community for their all-out support since the very start of the season.

by Lance Catadman | FORWARD Staff Writer
Photos by Edrian Gustin Camacho | FORWARD Staff Photographer

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University of San Jose Recoletos

USJ-R Correspondent

Official Correspondent of University of San Jose-Recoletos