UV mauls UP to take PCCL third place

SAN JUAN -- University of the Visayas capped off their campaign at the 2019-20 Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL)-National Collegiate Championship after mauling UP to pieces, 93-63 to take third place at the FilOil FlyingV Centre Sunday afternoon.

With the presence of former stalwart Rey Suerte, Gary Cortes' Green Lancers leaned on their breakaway in the second quarter as the CESAFI Powerhouse returned to the podium for the second consecutive season and fourth overall, cementing themselves as the best team in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Pouncing on the undermanned Fighting Maroons, UV let it rain from long distance as they hit 9/15 from beyond the arc, with Jancork Cabahug leading all scorers with 21 points while being perfect by hitting all of his four three-point attempts.

Slotman Lassina Coulibaly helped the former Baby Lancer as the Ivorian posted a double-double fo 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Melvin Botuhan provided the supply from the reserves after scoring 15 points off the bench as they recovered from their beatdown in the semifinal yesterday at the hands of defending champions Ateneo.

After a close opening period, UV pulled away in the middle periods by outscoring them by 24 and even led by as much as 32 in the final period, 91-59 on Archi Buscay's triple with 1:35 remaining.

Without the star trio of Bright Akhuetie, Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero, State U was led by the troika of Bruel Kamga, Joe Gomez De Liano and Conrad Catapusan who had 13 points apiece.

The scores:

UV 93 -- Cabahug 21, Coulibaly 17, Botuhan 15, Cometa 13, Maestre 9, Saga 7, Delator 4, Buscay 3, Maglasang 2, Gellacone 2, Tarrosa 0, Talliman 0, Avencena 0, Villaceran 0

UP 63 -- Kamga 13, Catapusan 13, Gomez De Liano 13, Murrell 9, Madrigal 5, Battad 5, Spencer 3, Ramos 2, Longa 0, Santiago 0

Quarter scores: 18-14, 44-28, 76-48, 93-63

Photo by Kevin Estrada