7 October 2018
CEBU CITY—The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers took a giant step towards their bid of a third straight championship crown after they claimed the scalps of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters, 80-59, in a critical showdown of the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, October 7, at the Cebu Coliseum here.
The two squads both ended the elimination round with nine wins and three losses but it will be the Green Lancers who will be assured of the number one seeding in the semifinal round owing to their superior higher-point difference against the Webmasters.
UC won by just seven points, 72-65, against UV in their first meeting in the elimination round.
More than avenging the first-round loss to UC, the 21-point rout assured UV of a twice-to-beat edge in the semis.
Tournament format states that the top two seeds in the semis will be twice-to-beat against their lower-ranked foes.
After a strong start to the season, UC is now in danger of failing to clinch a crucial twice-to-beat edge in the semis after dropping their second straight game and third in the last four games.
The other team capable of finishing the eliminations at 9-3 is the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).
USJ-R currently sports an 8-3 slate and will close out its elimination round campaign against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats on Tuesday.
USJ-R and UC split their elimination round duels, 1-1.
Rey Suerte sustained his fiery form as he once again spearheaded UV with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Gileant Delator and Josue Segumpan added 14 each, while Jancork Cabahug donated 13 points and eight rebounds.
Darrell Shane Menina fired 16 points, while Frederick Elombi added 12 points for UC, which stumbled towards the end of the eliminations after starting the season with eight straight victories.
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