University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Ricky Dyn Peromingan goes for a lay-up against Arnel Molina of Southwestern University in the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at Cebu Coliseum. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
THE Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras flirted with disaster but found a way to pull through as they topped the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in overtime, 85-75, in the 16th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Cobras exploded in overtime as two-time MVP Macmac Tallo, veteran guard John Lloyd Luz and 6-foot-11 center Quintin Nzusi found their mark to finish off the Jaguars and claim their eighth win in as many matches.
Tallo finished with 22, Luz added 21 while Nzusi had a double-double of 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Tied at 71-all at the end of regulation, the Jaguars surged ahead after a jumper by Tricky Peromingan. But that proved to be USJ-R’s last hurrah as SWU uncorked a 14-2 blast sparked by two quick buckets by Nzusi and a free-throw by Tallo that put them in front, 76-73.
After USJ-R’s Victor Nunez pulled his team to a point with a transition basket, Luz got fouled, made the first but missed the second. However, Nzusi tipped the ball back in to give the Cobras a 79-75 lead.
Tallo later added a booming tripleand an uncontested lay-in to put a stamp on the pulsating victory.
USJ-R, which fell to 4-3 (win-loss), got 15 from RJ Dinolan, 13 each from Janjan Pastias and Peromingan and 12 from Nelvin Navarra.
In the juniors division, the Don Bosco Greywolves snapped their two-game slump in the most resounding of ways as they crushed the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens, 77-40.
Athletic forward Aljie Mendez scored 19 to lead the Greywolves, who started the season with four straight wins before losing two straight.
Grenald Malubay added 13, JB Damolo pitched in 11 while Jomari Ranuco had 10 to round out Don Bosco’s high scorers.
CIT-U remained winless in seven games.