UV Green Lancers Tame Jaguars in Game 3 to complete Cesafi three-peat

CEBU CITY – University of the Visayas unveils a 15-2 run down the stretch to frustrate University of San Jose-Recoletos, 74-61, in the deciding Game Three of the 2018 Cesafi men's basketball finals on Monday night at the packed Cebu Coliseum.

In a game of peaks and valleys, it was the Green Lancers who came out on top of a rare three-peat and wrap up their 13th overall, solidifying their status as the most dominant collegiate team in the south.

Ryan Cortes, who served his one-game suspension but watched the game from the bleachers .

"I have to give it up to the players. They kept it up, "added Cortes.

With the game tied at 59-all after USJ-R rallied from a 13-point deficit, UV vividly composed with rookie standout Jafet Claridad reprising his Game One heroics by splashing a three-pointer.

After a free-throw by Bassiere Sackor, Claridad made USJ-R Sackor sank a layup off a great pass from Gileant Delator for a 68-59 lead.

Adding to USJ-R's woes was the fifth and final star of Jaybie Mantilla with 5:34 to go.

After Nichole Ubalde scored for Jaguars, Rey Anthony Suerte iced the win with a short jumper before soaring for a USJ-R's Nigerian big man Ewenike Segamars for a 73-61 lead with 1:07 to go.

Suerte finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three stakes to win the league MVP award for the second time in the last three seasons. Claridad, UV's recruit from Bacolod, added 15 behind four three-pointers.

Sackor, who missed most of the second half with four fouls, had 14 points and 14 boards while Jancork Cabahug was also effective, scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

The loss was a crushing blow for the Jaguars, who were trying to end up a 25-year-old drought.

Fletcher Galvez, Ewenike, and Ubalde each had 12 points for a USJ-R squad that misfired all game, finishing with a 33 percent shooting clip. Worse, the Jaguars missed 15 of their 21 attempts from the line.

Mantilla, playing in his final Cesafi game before moving on to the Cebu City Sharks, was also held to 4-of-12 shooting, for just 11 points.