Cobras bomb Generals in FilOil caging

AFTER nearly a month of playing against the best collegiate teams in the country with disappointing results, the Southwestern University Cobras are finally getting it. This, as they rallied back from a 21-point deficit to take down the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 80-75, in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup yesterday at the Arena in San Juan City.

The win was only the Cobras’ second in seven games but it couldn’t have come in more spectacular fashion as SWU stared a 17-38 deficit straight in the eye and showed enough composure to snatch the win.

SWU struggled early on and trailed, 9-21, after the first canto. Things turned to worse for the reigning Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) champions as Francis Munsayac and Jan Jamon drained three-pointers to erect a 21-point cushion for the Generals.

However, Mark Panerio and John Pajantoy kept SWU within striking distance with timely makes to trim the deficit to 10, 34-44, at halftime. The Cobras briefly gained the lead, 49-45, after a 15-1 run anchored on Landry Sanjo but EAC leaned on Jamon once again, whose three trifectas in the third, kept the Generals in front, 60-54.

Then, SWU stepped up its defense, limiting EAC to just one basket in the first six minutes of the fourth canto while allowing Sanjo to wreak havoc inside to establish a nine-point bulge. EAC last threatened at 71-73 but Adam Mohammed swished a three from the right wing to settle the game’s outcome.

Sanjo had 23 points on top of 16 boards and five blocks. Another rookie, Mohammed, added 16 points spiked by four treys to offset the scoreless outing of star wingman, Monbert Arong.

Munsayac and Jamon paced EAC with 26 and 24 points, respectively.

BOX SCORES

SWU (80) Sanjo 23, Mohammed 16, Panerio 9, Escobio 8, Goloran 6, Pajantoy 6, Holper 3, Bautista 3, Bregondo 3, Otida 2, Siewe 1, Ortega 0, Arong 0

EAC (75) Munsayac 26, Jamon 24, Onwubere 7, Tayontong 5, King 4, Arquero 13, Mallari 3, Manga 2, Castro 0, Monteclaro 0, Santos 0.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio