Games Thursday (Cebu Coliseum)
5:15 p.m. – Don Bosco vs. SHS-AdC
6:45 p.m. – USC vs. UV
AFTER getting much hype in the preseason for hiring a proven champion coach and the influx of blue-chip recruits, things so far have not gone too well for the Southwestern University Cobras.
This after the Cobras lost their second game in a row, this time to the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers, 59-62 in the seniors division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament last Tuesday.
For the second straight game, the Cobras of head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba surrendered a double-digit advantage. Last Saturday, the Cobras led by 10 points on two occasions in the fourth period only to bow to the University of San Carlos Warriors, 63-65.
The same scenario happened last Tuesday as SWU went ahead by 12, 46-34 in the third period. However, the Panthers leaned on undersized power forward Fritz Dajalos and Joseph Sedurifa who ignited an 11-0 run in the fourth that gave them a 54-48 lead.
The Cobras then countered with an 11-0 blast that put them back in front 59-54 with under four minutes left. The Panthers though, unlike before, did not panic. A putback by James Ferraren, a steal and a lay-up by Artemio Camello and a lay-in by Mil Linao from a feed by Dajalos gave USPF a 60-59 leeway with 1:13 remaining.
The Cobras had a chance to regain the advantage as Guillena stole the ball at midcourt but he blew the wide-open lay-in with just USPF point guard Randy Avila standing between him and the basket. Later, Ferraren added a free-throw to pad the lead to two with 49 ticks left.
The Cobras’ last gasp came with under 20 seconds as Arong drove hard down the lane but got blocked by a phalanx of USPF defenders. Avila then added a free-throw to peg the final tally.
Dajalos tallied 20 to lead USPF who is now tied at the top of the standings with a 2-0 record. Sedurifa added 17. Justin Aboude, SWU’s Cameroonian import, had 24 points but was held scoreless in the final period.