UV Baby Lancers Dominate USC to Open Cesafi 15-Under Basketball Tournament

The defending champions, University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers, began their campaign with an emphatic 69-39 triumph over the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors in the opening game of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) 15-Under basketball tournament held at the USC Gym on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Coached by Ronald Bucao, the Baby Lancers, who were the inaugural 15-Under champions, started sluggishly and found themselves trailing early in the first quarter. However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter when UV embarked on a 14–5 run to establish a 29–20 lead at halftime.

From there, the Baby Lancers maintained control for the remainder of the game and cruised to a decisive victory, sending a clear message of their intention to defend the title successfully.

In the tournament's opening matchup, the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, last year’s runners-up, narrowly edged out the University of San Jose–Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguar Cubs with a 54–48 scoreline.

The Dragons managed the pace for most of the contest, building a 10-point lead early. Yet, midway through the fourth quarter, the Jaguar Cubs rallied to seize a brief 34–33 advantage. Led by Cedric dela Rosa’s leadership and scoring, CEC regrouped and reclaimed the lead. Despite USJ-R’s late push, time ran out before they could complete the comeback.

Dela Rosa dominated the boards and contributed 16 points, with teammate Kristoffer Risabo adding 12. The Jaguars’ top scorer was Matthew Eroy, who posted 16 points.

Elsewhere, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers delivered a convincing 68–27 win over the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) Greywolves. Meanwhile, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens shocked the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles with a 55–42 victory.

The tournament, initially slated to conclude last month, was postponed due to calamities that affected Cebu late last year. Play is set to continue on Thursday, January 8, at the USC Gym.