The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras continued to show that they had the University of the Visayas’ (UV) number as they edged the Green Lancers, 70-66, in their much-anticipated encounter in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament last night at the packed Cebu Coliseum.
It was a game that truly lived up to its lofty billing with the two powerhouse squads clawing at one another for 40 minutes with the lead in the standings at stake. In the end, SWU’s hustle and gallant stand on defense in crunchtime proved to be the difference in the tightly fought game.
Monbert Arong had 19 points while Mark Jayven Tallo finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists as SWU improved to 3-0 (win-loss). Landry Sanjo added nine markers and 13 rebounds. UV fell to 2-1.
The Cobras were in prime position to run away with the victory as they led, 65-55, after a fancy layup by Tallo and a floater by Adams Mohammed, and with only 3:18 left on the clock.
UV refused to back down and came to within one, 66-67, after an 11-2 run led by Partner’s Cup MVP John Abad and league MVP Wowie Escosio.
Abad sank a three and a transition layup with 1:18 left to pull closer. UV even had a shot to snatch the lead after the Cobras were forced into a 24-second shot clock violation.
But Abad turned from hero to goat as he threw the ball away in UV’s next offensive, giving possession back to SWU with 34.8 remaining.
The Lancers gained the ball back after another 24-second violation on SWU. But all that was for naught as their inbound play went haywire with the ball landing in Tallo’s hands.
SWU import Landry Sanjo was fouled and made one free throw but power forward Daryl Goloran got the offensive rebound and passed the ball off to Arong, who sealed the deal with two free throws with 1.4 seconds on the clock.
UV got a double black eye as their juniors squad also faltered, losing to the defending champions Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles, 78-60.
In other games, the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation beat the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, 80-70, while Cebu Eastern College defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 69-65.