Cesafi champions Cobras crawl back from 20 down but still lose to NCAA champ San Beda

The reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions Southwestern University Cobras came all the way back from a 20-point deficit in the second half but still fell short against the NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions, 72-73, in the Final Four of the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.

It was a fantastic effort shown by the Cobras that somehow got marred by another ill-advised outburst by fiery head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, as he allegedly slapped his point guard Joseph Nalos again after the latter held on to the ball for too long in the dying seconds and failing to get a potential game-winner off before the buzzer sounded.

“Good but not good enough,” said Alcoseba after the game about his wards’ efforts yesterday.

Facing 45-65 deficit midway through the third and a 17-point hole at the start of the fourth canto, the Cobras came roaring back behind the stellar play of Cameroonian, Ben Mbala, who scored 16 of his 27 points in the fourth canto. They also held the Red Lions to just six points in the payoff period and were within one and with possession after Baser Amer missed a three pointer.

With just 10 seconds left, San Beda forced Mbala away from the paint while Nalos contemplated his next move. The former Cebu Institute of Technology Wildkitten, though, took too much time and got the ball to Mbala’s hands with just three seconds remaining and SWU was not able to get a shot off as time expired.

Alcoseba was livid after the buzzer sounded and approached Nalos and was seen by cameras hitting Nalos in the face. This was the second time that an incident like this has happened after Alcoseba got into it with Nalos during their Aug. 26 match against rivals University of the Visayas. That led to Nalos leaving the squad before later on deciding to come back.

Asked about the incident, Alcoseba commented that he was just upset with Nalos for not knowing how much time was remaining. “I just tapped his face for not knowing the game clock,” said Alcoseba in a text message to this writer.

UST SHOCKS ATENEO

In the second game, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers exacted revenge upon their UAAP tormentors, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 76-66, behind Jeric Teng’s 22 points.

SWU faces Ateneo tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the continuation of the single round-robin semifinals of this tournament. San Beda takes on UST at 4 p.m.