The title places the Green Lancers back on top of the Cesafi mountain after they were dislodged from it in 2019 by Southwestern University-Phinma. This championship is UV’s 14th overall.
Veteran forward Ted Saga led UV with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds while Jiesel Tarrosa, who was named as the league’s Most Valuable Player, had 14 points. Rookie forward Ivo Salarda stepped up and added 10 markers, eight of which came in overtime.
Tied at 64-all at the end of regulation, UV got a huge lift from Salarda, who scored a layup and two free-throws to give the Green Lancers a 71-66 lead with 2:41 to go.
The Green Lancers’ defense also came alive in the extra session, stifling Paul Galinato and Joseph Arth Nalos on consecutive possessions, leading to another layup by Zylle Cabellon for a 73-66 lead, time down to 1:51. Jhiey Paraldo pulled UC to within five with two free-throws but Salarda scored an and-one to give UV an eight-point cushion, 76-68, with just 51 ticks remaining.
A three-point play by Michael Diaz and a triple by Jasper Pacana made things interesting as it sliced UV’s lead down to three, 77-74, with just six seconds to go. But UC forward Luigi Gabisan committed an unsportsmanlike foul trying to stop Salarda from scoring in transition. Salarda made two free-throws to secure the victory for UV.
Galinato led UC with 13 points while Diaz had 12. The Webmasters started the game on fire and led by 11, 12-1. But UV slowly chipped away at the deficit before pulling to within one, 53-54, heading to the final canto.
UV had two chances at winning the game and the title in regulation, but Froiland Maglasang missed a three-pointer, while Tarrosa stepped out of bounds after getting the offensive board.