University of Cebu’s Justine Dacalos secures a rebound in a Cesafi men’s basketball game against the University of San Carlos. Dacalos will be missing today’s game against Southwestern University-Phinma because of an injury.
Junjie Mendoza
With seven wins in their pocket and no losses to show yet in the 2018 Cesafi men’s basketball tournament, University of Cebu (UC) head coach Yayoy Alcoseba is wary that his Webmasters would let their guards down a little.
This is why he has been in their ear about it in every practice session.
“It’s very challenging (to keep the team motivated) but I always remind the players that we have not achieved anything,” said the fiery, multi-titled head coach as his Webmasters gun for their eighth win in a row when they battle the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras today at the Cebu Coliseum.
There are obstacles for Alcoseba and his wards entering today’s game.
One is that the Webmasters will head to this match without do-it-all guard Justine Dacalos, who is sidelined for a while because of a hamstring injury. In his stead will be left-handed guard Paul Galinato, formerly of the Centro Escolar University.
Another is that the SWU-Phinma side, which sports a 2-6 (win-loss) card, is coming off a morale-boosting 64-61 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF). Though the team is still tied at second-to-the-last place, the win may spark something from the Cobras side.
SWU head coach Mike Reyes, who has spoken of their offensive woes on numerous occasions, made no secret of what they will have to do in order to keep their bid for the Final Four alive.
“Simple lang, we made our shots [in our win against USPF]. We have to do it again against UC,” Reyes said.
The curtain-raiser will see the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars, which are running in second place at 5-2, take on the reeling University of San Carlos Warriors, which just recently lost to the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats, 77-82, for their sixth loss in eight games.