Undermanned Cobras sting USJ-R to improve to 3-1
The undermanned Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras continued to prove doubters wrong as they pulled away late to defeat the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 71-62, in the 15th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Two-time league MVP Mark Jayven Tallo led the late breakaway by scoring half of the telling 10-0 run that eventually gave the reigning champions their third win in four games, good for third place in the standings behind the unbeaten University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, who pummeled the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Panthers earlier in the day, 97-56, for their fourth win in a row.
Tallo had his fourth straight double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds laced with four assists and five steals.
The Jaguars were within three, 56-59, when Mac Racho sparked the decisive rally with a nifty lay-up. Tallo, who was given a tongue-lashing by SWU’s fiery head coach Yayoy Alcoseba moments before, responded with a corner triple and two free throws before Anton Pardo hit the last of his five three-pointers to give the Cobras a 69-56 lead, with exactly a minute remaining in the match.
Pardo led the team with 15, Racho ended up with 14 while Filipino-Samoan rookie Juju Bautista had 12 markers and 16 boards.
USJ-R fell further down the standings with a 1-3 card as it struggled to get more from star forward Kevin Villafranca, who was held down to just eight points.
RJ Dinolan led USJ-R with 14 while rookies Miguel Gastador and Ricky Peromingan combined for 23.
The Green Lancers got 14 from Franz Arong and 13 from Alwyn Aguirre. Rookie combo-guard Rey Suerte contributed a dozen as they overwhelmed the returning Panthers from the opening tip and led, 36-10, after the first 10 minutes of action.
MAGIS EAGLES ON A ROLL
In the juniors division, two-time defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu without breaking a sweat dispatched the Don Bosco Greywolves, 69-38, for their fourth win in a row.
Travis Mantua paced the winners with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals while Andrew Velasco and Errol Pastor chipped in 12 each. Don Bosco fell to 0-5 for the season.
The USC Baby Warriors also grabbed their third win in as many games with a 57-49 victory over the Cebu Eastern College Dragons, which fell to 1-3.