UE dominates UV to nab third place in Cebu City Invitationals

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors salvaged third place in the Cebu City Collegiate Invitational Basketball Tournament after routing the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 98-75, on Tuesday, August 11, at the Cebu City Sports Institute.

Christopher Lagat led UE with a game-high 24 points, along with six assists, four rebounds, and two steals. JM Edoukou added 14 points and five rebounds, while John Xyrus Gemao and Johndrew Jimenez chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The victory allowed the Red Warriors to end the six-day, five-team tournament on a winning note and pocket the P50,000 third-place consolation prize. UE finished the competition with a 3-2 record.

The Red Warriors narrowly missed the championship round after finishing the elimination phase tied with the University of Cebu at 2-2. UC secured the second championship berth through the winner-over-the-other rule after defeating UE, 89-85, in the eliminations despite trailing by as many as 13 points.

UV, meanwhile, was led by Kent Ivo Salarda, who finished with 22 points and six rebounds. He was the Green Lancers’ only player in double figures. John Dela Torre added nine points, while AJ Ejurango and JZ Dizon scored eight points apiece.

After a tightly contested opening period, UE, coached by Chris Gavina, began pulling away in the second quarter. The Red Warriors took a 45-36 lead into halftime before extending their advantage to 12 points, 56-44, midway through the third quarter.

UE then broke the game open, building a 68-49 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Red Warriors maintained control in the fourth period as UV struggled to mount a comeback. The physicality of the game, however, remained high despite UE’s commanding lead, with several unsportsmanlike fouls called. UV’s Ivan Alsola was eventually ejected after being assessed two unsportsmanlike fouls.

UE’s dominance was reflected in its 23-17 advantage in points off turnovers and its 45-29 edge in bench points. The two teams were nearly even in interior scoring, with UE holding a slim 40-38 advantage.

With the win, UE closed its Cebu City Invitational campaign with a podium finish after narrowly missing a shot at the championship.

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