IT WAS BACK to the drawing board once more for the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras as they succumbed to the Letran Knights, 68-78, in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.
The loss was their fifth in six games as the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) could not replicate the success of their 74-64 breakthrough win against the Lyceum Pirates last Thursday.
Rookie sensation Rey Nambatac continued to shine for the retooled Knights as he led five players in double-figures with 16 points and four steals to help Letran even its record to 1-1 (win-loss) after its 81-88 loss to Ateneo in its first game.
Mcjour Luib had 13, Mark Cruz and Raymund Almazan each had 11 while Jovit Tambeling added 10 in a stellar show of balanced scoring by Letran.
The Cobras put up a good fight as they rallied in the third canto after trailing by double digits at halftime, 26-39.
They eventually took the lead at 57-56 after an undergoal stab by African import Landry Sanjo but the Knights did not buckle and responded with strong drives to the basket by Nambatac that got them a 68-61 cushion with less than five minutes remaining in the match. Almazan shut the door on SWU with a power move that brought the lead back to 10, 75-65.
Sanjo, one of three imports by SWU, paced the Cobras with 17 points and 10 boards while Monbert Arong had 16 points and six rebounds.
BOX SCORES:
CSJL 78 – Nambatac 16, Luib 13, Cruz 11, Almazan 11, Tambeling 15, Publico 5, Belorio 5, Gabawan 4, Ruaya 3, Buenaflor 0, Pantin 0, Almario 0, Castro 0, Oluto 0.
SWU 68 – Sanjo 17, Aron 16, Ortega 8, Otida 6, Bautista 6, Bregondo 0, Siewe 4, Holper 3, Mohammed 2, Panerio 2, Goloran 0. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio