NCAA powerhouse San Beda College downs hosts MLKP-SWU to win Sinulog Cup title

Back-to-back NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions showed their veteran mettle and poise as they took down the M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 88-82, to claim the title in the MLKP Sinulog Cup yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Lightning-quick guard Ryusei Koga provided the fireworks with his 22 points but it was much-heralded rookie Baser “The Hammer” Amer who dropped the anchor on the heads of the Cobras with his back-breaking offensive exploits in crunchtime.

Ironically, the Cobras picked the most inopportune of times to lose their A-game, as they trailed early before making a fiery rally in the second half.

The wards of head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba played lackluster basketball as they fell behind, 13-25, after the opening canto.

Things turned from bad to worse for SWU in a jiffy as the deficit ballooned to 17 at halftime, 28-45, and went as high as 19, behind the blur-like fastbreak baskets of Koga.

But the Cobras had some venom left to spew as Jeff Viernes connived with Abby Santos and Ben Mballa in a 12-2 rally that trimmed the deficit to just single digits, 40-49.

They found themselves behind by just seven, 59-66, heading to the fourth canto.

SWU continued their charge in the fourth stanza, creeping to within just two, 73-75, with 4:54 left.

Amer then took over, finishing his endgame heroics by drawing the defense on a drive down the lane before dropping it off to Kyle Pascual, who converted an unmolested lay-in for an 87-79 lead with under a minute left.

Meanwhile, third place honors was won by the University of the East Red Warriors, who beat the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, 75-69.