University of Visayas Lancers Ready For Palaro As CVIRAA rep

With just one player added as a reinforcement, the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) basketball team is basically a solid University of the Visayas Baby Lancers squad.

The team, along with Kinneth Brillo of Lapu-Lapu City, is ready to jump into their gold medal bid in the Palarong Pambansa when the competition starts on April 10 in Albay.

The UV Baby Lancers make up the core of the team after having won the CVIRAA basketball and only added Brillo into the roster.

Another player, Michael Jay Cutamoro, was not allowed by his team, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu to join them.

The team hopes to surpass their third-place finish in the Tagum Palaro last year, when they lost to Central Luzon in the semifinal round.

UV head coach Abel Bungcaras is confident his boys will be bringing home the gold medal this year.

“Last year, we fell short of our goal because we became complacent when we played Central Luzon in the semifinal round. We have learned lessons from that loss and this time, we will not take any team for granted this time,” Bungcaras said.

Bungcaras added that Brillo is a worthy addition as the Pajo National High School center will give depth to UV’s front line.

Bungcaras also said Cutamora’s presence would have provided more muscle but will have to make do without him.

The coach added that UV will be parading a meaner squad compared to its Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) squad with the off-season acquisition.

The addition of Justin Jake Rosete and Brian Dave Santillan made the Baby Lancers tougher in the middle with ace player Raul Jancork Cabahug manning the shaded lane.

“We are now ready, I just hope that the bracketing will favor us this time. Last year, we have to play a total of eight games while others, including the gold medal winner NCRAAA team, won the gold after winning six games. We had two more games compared to them,” Bungcaras said. (PNA) SCS/EB/MP/PJN