SWU goes for the kill
Games today:
Cebu Coliseum
2 p.m. – USC vs. USJ-R (For Third)
3:45 p.m. – SWU vs UV (Game Three, Finals)
Will today be a coronation of yet another title for the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras? Or will the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers finally awaken from their deep slumber and put up some semblance of competition?
The answers to these will be known today as the south’s most powerful collegiate squads continue their war of attrition in Game Three of the best-of-five championship series in the 13th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament at what will surely be a packed-to-the-rafters Cebu Coliseum.
The Cobras are just a win away from claiming the title for a second consecutive year after winning Game One, 62-54, and Game Two, 71-60, for a commanding 2-0 lead in this series.
The Cobras have been dominating this year’s Cesafi season, winning 14 straight games, including five consecutive over the Lancers.
UV is expected to put it all on the line in order to extend the series for yet another day. The odds are clearly stacked against the proud Lancers, especially after their game plan of playing small ball backfired in Game Two.
In an effort to match SWU’s quickness, UV head coach Felix Belano sat down his most productive big men – Rhaffy Octobre, Chris Perolino and the reigning league MVP Wowie Escosio – in favor of his guards. Seeing this, the Cobras pounced and repeatedly went to import Landry Sanjo, who strung up UV’s non-existent interior defense to the tune of 20 points and 20 rebounds.
If the Lancers are to harbor any hopes of gaining a win against their archrivals this season, they must get more from their old reliables, especially from Escosio, who continued his season-long struggles against the Cobras with just seven markers in Game Two. Import Mike Nzuesseu was no different as he managed just nine points.
The only bright spot for UV in the last game was the play of the pre-season MVP John Abad, who made up for his paltry four-point performance in Game One by tallying 16 last time out.
