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Somewhere, fallen Lancer Lucky Pitogo is smiling.
This after the University of the Visayas Green Lancers remained kings of the Cesafi basketball wars for an unprecedented eighth straight year, following their 73-68 conquest of the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, in Game 4 of the best-of-five seniors finals at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win wrapped up the exciting series, 3-1 and the Lancers dedicated the victory to their lucky charm, Lucky Pitogo, who was slain before the Cesafi season, a victim of an apparent hold-up in his hometown of Consolacion, Cebu.
“We dedicate this championship to Lucky. It’s really amazing since this is our eighth title and we achieved it today, October 8, 2008 and his favorite number was No. 8,” said a jubilant Elmer “Boy” Cabahug immediately after the final buzzer sounded.
The win though, did not come on a silver platter for UV as they had to lean on their veteran smarts, which came from unlikely sources in rookie point guard and former juniors MVP Harold Cincoflores who scored six of his 16 points in the fourth period on top of three assists.
The spitfire guard anchored a telling 10-2 run at the start of the final period that turned the tide for the Lancers. They were down, 52-54, but with Cincoflores’ crafty quarterbacking which fed Bonifer Sendrijas and Greg Slaughter baskets, and his own fearless drives down the paint, UV finally took control of the ballgame, 62-56.
The Jaguars tried to keep up with their opponents and came to within, 61-66 and was on the verge of gaining momentum, but Chris Diputado canned a booming three-pointer that beat the 24-second shotclock giving the Lancers a, 68-61 lead with three minutes remaining.
A short-7-2 burst by USJ-R pushed them to within three, 68-71 with 48 ticks left but consecutive free-throws by senior guard and Mythical Five member Von Lanete sealed the win for UV.
USJ-R appeared to be on their way to forcing a do-or-die Game 5 as they waxed hot from behind the three-point arc to lead 21-17 after the first period. The two teams battled back and forth in the next two stanzas until UV leaned on the stellar performance of the league MVP, Slaughter who had a monstrous double-double with 16 points and 19 rebounds, enough to net him the Finals MVP plum to add to his All-Star MVP and league MVP awards this season. Ritchum Dennison had 14 points while Diputado had 11.
BABY LANCERS
EVEN SERIES
Meanwhile, juniors defending champions UV Baby Lancers extended their finals series to a winner-take-all Game 5 after edging the University of Cebu Baby Webmasters, 72-66. Arvie Cabanero led UV with 21 points while Jan Auditor had 18.
The University of San Carlos Warriors also notched third place in the seniors division after edging the UC Webmasters in Game 3 of their series, 70-69.
