THE DEFENDING champions Southwestern University (SWU) and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) earned a sweep of their respective divisions as they came up with separate victories in the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The SWU Cobras, champions of the men’s division, blasted the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Panthers, 88-63, to finish the elimination round with a perfect 6-0 (win-loss) record. The SHS-AdC Magis Eagles, on the other hand, won over the USP-F Baby Panthers, 80-75, to record a clean 9-0 record in the juniors division.
SWU and SHS-AdC now automatically advance to the semifinal round by virtue of their finish atop the standings after this initial round.
Making the Eagles’ feat more impressive is the fact that the win was their 23rd in a row dating back to their 14-game romp in the league during last season’s march to the championship.
Philippine under-16 team member Arnie Padilla led the way for the Eagles with 17 points and 17 rebounds.
SWU got another solid outing from import Landry Sanjo, who tallied 19 points, 13 rebounds, six steals and three assists.
In the second game of the men’s division, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats nabbed the fifth seed after they beat the University of Cebu Webmasters, 88-61.
In the other game in the juniors division, the University of San Carlos Baby Warriors won over CIT-U, 73-70, for their sixth win in eight outings. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio