SWU tries to end slump in Filoil Flying V pre-season tourney, faces Cebu-flavored UP

After opening the tournament with two straight losses, the reigning Cebu champions Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras try to get their ship back on the winning track when they face off against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons today in the 2015 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena in San Juan City.

Touting a roster teeming  with championship experience and bolstered by additional pieces who are expected to contribute, the Cobras have, unfortunately, been overwhelmed in their first two games, first losing to the Mapua Cardinals, 73-81, before getting torched by the La Salle Green Archers, 80-90, last Saturday.

That loss was a crucial one as it placed the Cobras at the bottom of the standings in Group B.

However, “King Cobra” Mark Jayven Tallo, the Cesafi’s two-time MVP, remains undaunted in spite of the consecutive setbacks as he saw some improvements in their game against La Salle after the debacle that was the Mapua match.

“The first game versus Mapua, sobrang thirsty naming nun. Sobrang gigil kami maglaro after two months of practice. Against La Salle, we actually had a good game. We were playing as a team pero talagang outplayed lang talaga kami,” the former La Salle guard said.

Still, Tallo took note of the adjustments that have to be made if they are to achieve success in this prestigious preseason tournament. “We need to make adjustments sa depensa kasi parang nakalimutan na namin ang mechanics namin. Sa opensa naman, all of us should sacrifice. Our team is still learning, especially si Boko (Mupungo). If we will have our first win tomorrow then that will be a good start for our team for sure,” the sensational 6-foot-1 guard added.

Melvin Holper, the younger brother of former pro Mike Holper, said that in spite of the setbacks, the team is in high spirits and is raring to showcase the brand of ball that have made the Cobras one of the feared collegiate squads in all the land.

“It’s really a matter of us getting back to what we are supposed to do rather than letting the other team impose their will on us,” said Holper, the sweet-shooting big man who is an integral part of the Cobras’ perimeter attack.

Today  the Cobras get a chance to redeem themselves as they face off against a luckless Maroons squad that at 1-5 (win-loss), is still searching for a winning formula that will bode well for them in the upcoming UAAP wars later in the year.

The Maroons side is led by Cesafi juniors MVPs Janjan Jaboneta and Paul Desiderio, and Henry Asilum and Pio Longa, both formerly of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.