SWU bounces back, tramples UC in 8th Cesafi Partner’s Cup

Garciano Puerto Jr. of Highlands Corned Beef-University of Cebu soars for a lay-up against Phinma-Southwestern University defenders in the 8th Cesafi Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)

A DAY after not playing like their normal selves, the Phinma-Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras were back in business and delivered a 78-68 beatdown on the Highlands Corned Beef-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters in the 8th Cesafi Partner’s Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

The victory was the Cobras’ third against a single loss and put them in prime position for one of the four semifinal seats at stake at the end of the elimination round.

Spearheading SWU’s attack were two-time Cesafi MVP Mac Tallo and rookie sensation Sir Shaquille Imperial as both scored 20 points each with the former adding eight rebounds.

Veteran guard John Lloyd Luz added 16 markers.

The Cobras dictated the game’s tempo and pace all game-long and peppered UC’s porous transition defense with fastbreak buckets from Tallo and

Imperial that erected their largest lead of the game, 48-30, early in the third.

UC fought back and trimmed the deficit to eight but Tallo countered with a long triple that pushed the lead back to double-digits, 57-46, heading to the final frame.

Delator paced UC, which fell to 2-2 (win-loss), with 13 points while JR Puerto added 11.

In the first game, the Worthy-University of the Visayas Green Lancers remained unbeaten with a 73-69 win over the My Led Opto-Cebu Institute of

Technology-University Wildcats. The Wildcats actually held a 10-point lead in the second half but the Lancers got a spark from rookie guard Tristan Albina whose three-point bombs fueled their comeback.

Skipper Josue Segumpan and Albina finished with 11 apiece while Jerome Napao added 10 for the 5-0 Lancers.

Dropping to 1-4, CIT-U got 19 from Rey Navarra and 15 from Karl Lucena.