Lion Tiger Aerosols-backed UV scrapes past USC in OT in Partners Cup hoop

Games Thursday (Cebu Coliseum)

5:30 p.m. – Rose Aquarius vs. Gaisano Capital

7:00 p.m .– Lion Tiger vs. San Marino

Experience counts especially in the cutthroat world of Cebu collegiate basketball. And no other team possesses it more than the nine-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) champions University of the Visayas Green Lancers.

The Lion Tiger Aerosols-backed Lancers proved this again last Tuesday when they escaped with a pulse-pounding 78-76 overtime win over the Prime Asia-University of San Carlos Warriors in the Cesafi Partner’s Cup at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers turned to their veteran leaders for points down the stretch, namely point guard Harold Cincoflores and big man Edrian Lao, especially the latter whose three-point play with 4.7 seconds left in overtime, gave the Lancers the close win.

Lion Tiger-UV improved to 9-2 while Prime Asia dropped to 3-8 win-loss.

It was a see-saw battle all throughout but the Lancers looked poised for a comfortable win after establishing a 75-68 lead in the extra session, thanks to two baskets by Lao and a three-pointer by Cincoflores. But the Warriors roared back and reclaimed the lead at 76-75, after a triple and a three-point play by Giovanni Padillo.

Lao though, refused to back down and bullied his way to the hoop as he was fouled, off a great feed by Rene Saycon. The Warriors had a shot at winning the game but Nilton Otida’s three-point try failed to find its mark.

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the embattled Warriors as they were ahead, 66-63, with 44 ticks left in regulation. Cincoflores tied the game with a three-pointer from the baseline, and then, after Otida gave the lead back to USC with a short floater, the former tied it again at 68-all, with a daring drive.

Lao had 27 markers, 16 coming in the fourth and overtime periods while Cincoflores tallied 15. Prime Asia was led by the 18 and 11 of Padillo and Dominic Adlawan.