UV coach Gary Cortes (in entrance) reacts throughout their CESAFI Greatest-of-Three Finals Collection towards UC. | Picture from Sugbuanong Kodaker
CEBU CITY, Philippines — College of the Visayas (UV) Inexperienced Lancers head coach Gary Cortes has etched his identify among the many greats in Cebu Faculties Athletic Basis, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball, securing his sixth championship and finishing his second three-peat.
However Cortes’ journey to this monumental achievement has a novel narrative—one impressed by the legendary Chicago Bulls of the NBA within the 90s.
Talking after his crew’s decisive 72-55 victory over the College of Cebu (UC) Site owners in Recreation 2 of the best-of-three finals, Cortes shared that his crew’s championship run was modeled after the enduring Bulls dynasty led by Michael Jordan and coach Phil Jackson.
READ: CESAFI FINALS: UV sweeps UC, claims sixteenth CESAFI crown
The Bulls famously achieved two three-peat titles from 1991-1993 and 1996-1998.
“This victory is particular for us as a result of we’ve completed a three-peat earlier than, misplaced the title, and now we’ve completed it once more,” stated Cortes.
READ: UV Inexperienced Lancers face UC Site owners in high-stakes Cesafi finals
“I advised my gamers earlier than the season that we’re going to observe within the footsteps of the Chicago Bulls which is the 2 three-peats.”
SERIOUS CHALLENGE
Regardless of his confidence, Cortes admitted that the finals towards UC posed a severe problem. The Site owners had already defeated the Inexperienced Lancers in the course of the elimination spherical, 57-55, making UV further cautious heading into the championship collection.
READ: UV Inexperienced Lancers edge out Benedicto Cheetahs in thrilling Cesafi match
“We didn’t count on to win by a big margin within the finals,” Cortes stated.
“The truth is, we made solely a small batch of championship t-shirts to keep away from waste in case UC pressured a Recreation 3 and beat us. That’s how cautious we had been as a result of their crew was sturdy and couldn’t be underestimated.”
Finally, UV’s hallmark protection proved to be the distinction, paving the best way for his or her transition offense and securing the title.
MILESTONE
Whereas the Inexperienced Lancers celebrated their championship, in addition they bid farewell to crew captain Jimpaul Amistoso and veterans Froilan Maglasang and PJ Taliman, who’re set to graduate.
For Amistoso, the championship marked one other milestone in UV’s custom of excellence.
Having been a Inexperienced Lancer since highschool, Amistoso thought-about this title much less extraordinary—not out of discontent, however as a result of successful has change into part of UV’s tradition.
“I’m used to being a champion as a result of that’s the UV tradition,” Amistoso stated.
“Although UC was very sturdy, I had full belief in my teammates,” he added.
This season, Amistoso credited Cortes for pushing the crew arduous in follow whereas fostering a relaxed but centered ambiance constructed on belief, brotherhood, and championship perception of their system.
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