UV coach: Heart of champion made the difference in Game 1

Sports

GAME 1 was a test of mental and physical fortitude that the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers passed with flying colors.

The Green Lancers showed the stuff they made of when they gutted out a lung-busting 74-72 double-overtime win over the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and moved a win away from copping yet another crown in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday night, Dec. 9, at the Cebu Coliseum.

UV head coach Gary Cortes was all praises for his wards, who refused to wilt under tremendous pressure to gain a 1-0 headtstart in the short best-of-three titular series.

“It was more of us showing the heart of a champion,” Cortes said.

UV’s championship composure certainly saved them from the jaws of defeat as it refused to cave in even if UC led by eight points at one point, 46-38.

A huge defensive lapse in the dying seconds of the second overtime period nearly proved costly but in the game’s biggest possession, the Green Lancers delivered.

UV was nursing a 72-69 lead with the clock ticking down to its final seconds when UC got a huge break after Ricofer Sordilla was fouled by Zylle Cabellon while he was attempting a three-pointer.

Sordilla coolly sank three free throws that knotted the count at 72-all with nine seconds left.

With the game and the probably the series on the line, Cortes put his trust in Raul Gentallan

Gentallan didn’t disappoint.

Gentallan received the inbounds pass and called for a clear out as he calmly dribbled all the way to the other end of the court.

Gentallan made his move with a stutter step then dribbled to his right before pulling up for a jumper from the keyhole. The shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net and UC didn’t have enough time to launch a decent shot, sealing UV’s dramatic win.

“That was the design play. That was really for Gentallan. Usually, in a situation like that, I would go for Cabellon but I just thought Gentallan had the better shooting percentage that night,” said Cortes.

Interestingly, Gentallan and Cabellon both shot 33.3 percent from the field in Game 1. Gentallan, however, fared better from the two-point field where he went 5-of-10 while Cabellon was just 2-for-10.

Cortes said it was the kind of game that UV expected from UC.

“Every championship, it’s anybody’s game,” said Cortes.

But for Cortes, the Green Lancers could have avoided going through such an intense game had they shot better from the free throw line and handled the ball well.

“We had too many missed free throws and too many turnovers. That’s something that we should improve on come Game 2,” said Cortes.

UV was 11-of-25 from the charity stripe in Game 1 while UC was 14-of-22. The Green Lancers turned the ball over 27 times. The Webmasters were also erratic with 24 errors.

The Green Lancers may have escaped with the critical Game 1 victory but it came with a price after AJ Sacayan prematurely left due to an ankle injury.

“He is doubtful for Game 2 and it’s big for us because he is averaging at least 12 points a game and he contributes a lot in our defense,” said Cortes.

Cortes expressed confidence that other Lancers will step up should Sacayan sit out in Game 2.

“That’s why this was made a 15-man sport so that when someone is not available, we have other players who can step in,” Cortes said.

Because Game 1 needed two extra sessions to complete, UV’s key players logged heavy minutes with Gentallan, Paul John Taliman, and Kent Ivo Salarda each playing at least 40 minutes.

The two teams have only one day of rest as Game 2 of the series is scheduled on Thursday, Dec. 11.

Cortes isn’t too concerned with the minimal rest.

“We are built for this. We practice every day and there were instances when we play back-to-back. So physically, we are ready for this,” Cortes said.

The Green Lancers may be up in the series, but just like the Green Lancers, they will treat Game 2 as a do-or-die match as they look to complete a fourth straight championship title.

“They will not give it easily so we have to prepare. They will certainly make adjustments and we will our own too, especially when it comes to taking care of the ball and shooting well from the free throw area,” said Cortes.

A win in Game 2 will seal UV’s record-extending 17th title and for Cortes, it would be his eighth championship as the Green Lancers coach.

Another championship run will certainly cement Cortes’ status as one if not the most successful coach in the league.

But that’s not where the focus of the fiery bench tactician is right now.

“I don’t think too much about personal accomplishments. What I do is for the team. I just want to make the team, the management, and the supporters happy,” Cortes said.(CCM)