SLOW START
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
5 p.m. – UV vs. La Salle
7 p.m. – SWU vs. USC
Mark Jayven Tallo of SWU stretches for a layup against La Salle defenders in a PCCL Elite 8 game at the Cebu Coliseum.
(CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
The reigning champions La Salle Green Archers kickstarted their title defense with a thrilling 59-54 win over Cebu champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras in the Elite Eight stage of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Rookie forward Prince Rivero proved to be the difference-maker as he made a lay-up off a mad scramble that extended La Salle’s precarious one-point lead to three, 57-54, with 32.9 seconds remaining in the game.
The Cobras, champions in the Cesafi, flubbed their chance to come close or tie the game as Daryl Goloran lost the ball inside that led to insurance free-throws from La Salle’s Robert Bolick.
Jeron Teng led La Salle with 11 points while Rivero and point guard Thomas Torres wound up with nine apiece.
Ben Mbala, who was playing against his former team for the first time since he transferred to La Salle in 2013, finished with just eight but six of those came in the final frame.
Mark Jayven Tallo led the way for the Cobras with 17 while Jasper Parker chipped in 15 markers.
USC SHOCKS FEU
In the second game, Cesafi runner up University of San Carlos (USC) banked on its foreign players to upset the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 88-74.
Espoir Toyambi led the win with 20 points while Shooster Olago added 19 for the Warriors, who will have a rematch with SWU today at the same venue.
In today’s first game, the University of the Visayas takes on La Salle.