The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers displayed true championship grit on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Cebu Coliseum. They secured a hard-fought 72-63 victory over the Benedicto College (BC) Cheetahs, a win that was doubly sweet as it avenged an earlier loss and formally locked in the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Cesafi men's basketball tournament semifinals.
Lancers Rally from Early Deficit
The game did not start favorably for UV, as they found themselves trailing 29-18 after a jumper from BC's John Carlo Sabroso. However, the Green Lancers showcased their resilience with a pivotal 15-5 scoring run. This surge was capped by free throws from Rovello Robles, tying the game at 34 points apiece. Key baskets from AJ Sacayan and Paul John Taliman then propelled UV to a narrow 38-36 lead as the teams headed into halftime.
Key Players Step Up in Crucial Moments
The third quarter was a tense back-and-forth affair. Benedicto College, leaning on the efforts of Cleo Jawerga Jr., Junel Bulan, and Serge Gabines, managed to briefly retake the lead. UV's response was led by the stellar performances of Kent Ivo Salarda and Raul Gentallan, who powered their team back in front and maintained control.
Salarda was undoubtedly the star of the night, delivering a dominant double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds to earn Best Player of the Game honors. He was ably supported by Gentallan, who contributed 17 points and four rebounds before fouling out. Taliman added 12 points, while Sacayan chipped in 11 to round out UV's balanced attack. For the Cheetahs, Serge Gabines led the scoring with 14 points, followed by Den Rick Orgong with 13.
Semifinals Showdown and High School Action
With this decisive victory, the UV Green Lancers have earned a valuable twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round. Interestingly, their opponent will be the same Benedicto College Cheetahs, who secured the third seed. BC now faces the daunting task of needing to defeat UV twice in order to advance to the finals.
In related Cesafi high school division action, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Junior Wildcats kept their semifinal hopes alive with a 79-64 win over the San Carlos School of Cebu Baby Warriors. With top seeds University of Cebu Lapu-Lapu/Mandaue and Sacred Heart School–Ateneo de Cebu already positioned, CIT-U's final seeding hinges on the outcome of the UV–UC Main match. Coach Axel Rabaya highlighted the significance, noting that a semifinals berth would be CIT-U's first since 2009.
