Bassiere Sackour (19) and the University of the Visayas Green Lancers will figure in another big showdown with the Southwestern University Cobras in today’s action of the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
Archnemesis UV, SWU battle for solo lead in Cesafi men’s hoop tourney
Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
5 p.m. USPF vs SWU (High School)
6:30 p.m. SWU vs UV (College)
One will rise. The other will fall. This, as the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers face off against age-old rivals Southwestern University (SWU) – Phinma Cobras in what is expected to be a fierce test of wills between the remaining unbeaten squads in the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament over at the Cebu Coliseum.
Tied at the top of the standings at 5–0 (win-loss), both teams are expected to scrap, claw and fight for the right to keep a perfect record and zoom atop the standings as the lone unbeaten squad in this tournament.
For the Cobras, this latest chapter of their intense rivalry against the Lancers poses a unique opportunity to exercise the demons of their recent losses to UV last year and in the preseason’s Partner’s Cup as well.
And this time around, they will be armed to the teeth to do so behind a veteran crew led by two-time league MVP Macmac Tallo, John Lloyd Luz and Bernie Bregondo and a rookie core bannered by former Perpetual Help Altalette Shaquille Imperial, Darwin Barte and Rolly Bravo. Quintin Nzusi, a 6-foot-11 pivotman, is also expected to man the shaded lane and battle a UV frontcourt that is as intimidating as they are skilled.
Battling UV will be a tall order — quite literally — as they boast of a frontcourt that is powered by the likes of Liberian forward Bassiere Sackour, Monic Soliva, Jayson Balabag, Mike Macion and Jerome Napao, who is expected to draw the yeoman’s job of shadowing Tallo every step of the way.
UV’s backcourt are no slouches either with talented wingman Rey Suerte, skipper Toto Segumpan and prized find, rookie guard Tristan Albina from Dumaguete City.
In the high school competition, the Baby Cobras of SWU will seek to get back on track as they take what will be an undermanned University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers squad.