Home 
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
juniors:
1 p.m. ? UC vs. USJ-R
2:30 pm ? UV vs. CIT
seniors:
4 pm ? USC vs. UC
5:30 pm ? UV vs. CIT
The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers are now just a win away from making it back to the finals after they defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, 88-73, in Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal series of the seniors division basketball tournament late Thursday night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The win may not have been a 40-point beatdown, much like their dominating win over the Jaguars in the elimination round, but it was a convincing win nonetheless.
The Green Lancers broke away from their opponents in the second half with a mixture of speed from their fastbreaking guards and power from the hulking 7-foot Greg Slaughter.
The Lancers maintained the lead at halftime, 47-40, but the Jaguars got to within two, 48-50.
UV was not fazed and bounced back with a 16-4 run behind the crafty forays of Chris Diputado and Ritchum Dennison, that erected a 67-51 lead.
USJ-R staged a 13-3 rally to pull to within six, 64-70.
But UV leaned on its battle-tested experience and unloaded a 9-3 run behind Slaughter's seven consecutive points that blew the wind out of USJ-R's sails.
Slaughter ended up with 21 points while Dennison and Edrian Lao each had 12 markers.
Edwin Bibera led the Jaguars with 26 points. UV will be trying to end the series today with Game 2 scheduled at 6 p.m. at the same venue.
The UV bantams will also be trying to gain a slot in the championship round when they face the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) Wildkittens once again at 2:30 pm.
Meanwhile, defending champions University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters will be aiming to keep their title-defense alive when they face the USJ-R Baby Jaguars at 1 p.m.
UC and the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors will also start their semifinal series with Game 1 slated at 4 p.m.
