The SWU-Phinma Cobras and team officials pose for a photo after their win in the Cesafi on Sunday, Oct. 1. | By Glendale Rosal
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras overcame an early deficit and defeated the Benedicto College Cheetahs, 60-55, in the men’s basketball of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum.
Khyle Maglinte’s heroics put the Cobras on the winning side after topscoring his team with 24 points, 17 of which were tallied in crunchtime.
Joseph Calafoto added seven points, while Rey Enriquez and Don Yves Cañares combined for 10 points in SWU’s win.
Ken Melitante and Jayson Almero had 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Cheetahs.
Benedicto College was ahead in the first half and was even leading by nine, 47-38, entering into the final period of the game.
However, the Cheetahs of head coach BJ Murillo started to collapse offensively after suffering multiple turnovers, with the Cobras headed by Maglinte converting most of it into points midway in the final period.
Maglinte then led the Cobras anew in a 12-3 scoring blitz that tied the game at 50-all with 3:20 remaining.
The Cobras grabbed a one-point lead, 51-50, after Tracy Karl Dadang split his two free throws. Benedicto College managed to regain the lead, 52-51 from Sealtiel Yap and Kenneth Baballon’s freethrows.
But Maglinte sank back-to-back three point shots, including a free throw, after Murillo was called for a technical for complaining a missed call from the referee.
That short scoring burst from Maglinte put SWU ahead by three points, 57-54, with two minutes left in the game. Den Rick Orgong managed to sank both his free throws, as both teams were in penalty, to keep Benedicto College alive.
Emotions and temper flared with the game on the line, resulting in a double-technical and yielding each team one point from the charity stripe to bring the game to a 58-55 with 35 seconds remaining.
Both teams went on to suffer turnovers, with Benedicto College gaining a ball possession with 18 seconds left, but Orgong failed to convert his three-point attempt.
Maglinte sealed SWU’s victory after scoring a runaway layup as time wound down.
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