Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
1 p.m. – CIT vs. USPF (Juniors)
2:45 p.m. – USJ-R vs. CEC (Juniors)
4:30 p.m. – UV vs. SHS-AdC (Juniors)
6:15 p.m. – SWU vs. UV (Seniors)
A dogfight. This was the blunt assessment of the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras’ head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba of their much anticipated matchup with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers today in the 2013 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
Blood, sweat and tears were drawn in spades during several preseason games between the two powerhouse teams as the rivalry sown from decades of intense and oftentimes bitter encounters continues to linger and rage on. And with the solo lead in the standings and more importantly school pride at stake in today’s game, action is expected to be fierce.
But Alcoseba hopes that his team can focus on the task at hand, which is to secure the top seed and gain some much-needed rest before the semifinal round.
“Our priority is to be the top seed so that we can get some rest,” Alcoseba said. “We are not just focusing on UV but other teams as well. But since SWU and UV are rivals, this game would be very interesting given the fact that UV is hungry and well prepared.”
“This will be a dogfight from start to finish. Though the team is new and still developing chemistry, our mindset is still to go out and play every game with energy and intensity,” the multi-titled mentor added.
But for the nine-time champion UV, the road to redemption must go through the Cobras’ pit, especially after last season’s championship meltdown, where the Green Lancers lost a huge 17-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the deciding Game Five en route to losing the game, the crown and their identity.
The rebuilding process undertaken by head coach Felix Belano has taken the Lancers through the title in the Partner’s Cup preseason tournament and a tough stint in the Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, where they struggled to raise the country’s flag high. All that has brought them to this point – a precious chance at payback at their blue and orange-clad opponents and Belano expects nothing more than a ferocious affair.
“Our expectation is that it will be a hard game for 40 minutes or even more. We expect this to be a very tough game,” Belano said.
The SWU-UV game is not the only championship rematch in today’s playdate as the juniors division champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, a team that has not been beaten in 17 straight games, takes on the UV Baby Lancers.
UV is itching for revenge after getting swept by the Eagles in last year’s title series.