Struggling Cobras vs hot Jaguars

Games today (Cebu Coliseum)
5 p.m. – SWU vs Don Bosco (High School)
6:30 p.m. – USJ-R vs SWU-Phinma (College)

The Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras hope for a semifinal spot will be on the line today as they face off against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in the 17th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament over at the Cebu Coliseum.

Gametime is at 6:30 p.m. with the Cobras, which tote a 3-5 win-loss record, looking for their third straight win to narrow the gap against the University of Cebu, which currently owns the fourth spot and the last semifinal spot with its 5-4 card.

SWU-Phinma assistant coach Jerry Abuyabor said that defense will be at a premium especially against the Jaguars, owners of the second best record in the league at 6-2, one and a half game away from the defending champions University of the Visayas which boast of an 8-1 record.

“We need to stay patient, just stay in front and play good defense. We need to contest their shots and leave no shooters open. We have to give everything on the defensive end and we might have a chance for a big win against USJ-R,” relayed Abuyabor.

“Our boys have been doing well in practice and they are hungry for the win,” he added.

But the Jaguars, led by MVP contender Jaybie Mantilla, are raring to scrap for their third consecutive victory and come closer to locking up a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. The top two finishers at the end of the elimination round will get the coveted bonus.

“We will start first on defense because the offense will follow. Then we should trust each other and we must follow the system. And then as what coach Jun (Noel) said, as long as we follow the system, which is “run, create, then set up,” we have a good chance of winning,” said the Mythical Five guard who is having an even better season this year averaging 17.8 points, seven rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals.