Even before the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras touched down in Manila for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League, organizers had already arranged for them to go back to Cebu today.
Whether intentional or not, the Cobras took that slight to heart and they aren’t planning to take that flight home just yet. Especially after they barged into the best-of-three championship series with a dominant 86-71 win over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws in yesterday’s last semifinal playdate at the Arena in San Juan City.
“We already have a ticket tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. I told the boys, we haven’t even arrived yet but they’re already sending us home,” head coach Yayoy Alcoseba said.
Showing no ill effects from a 28-point beatdown against San Beda last Tuesday, the Cobras bounced back and took control of the game in the second period, where they outscored FEU, 29-11, to establish leads that went as high as 19.
From then on, SWU fought off every comeback attempt by FEU to make its way to the finals and become only the second provincial team to make it this far since the University of the Visayas achieved the feat back in 2007.
But unlike UV, which got blown out by Ateneo in that fateful championship game, 54-71, the Cobras have a different result in mind and that is no less than to capture the coveted national championship.
“It is one of my dreams as a coach to reach this far at this kind of level. But you know me, I don’t settle for second. I always go for first place,” Alcoseba said.
SWU will have to bleed for that first place trophy as they battle La Salle on Monday after the reigning UAAP champions eked past San Beda, 64-60, in the other semis pairing.
Cesafi Mythical Five member Monbert Arong torched FEU with 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Cameroonian import Landry Sanjo imposed himself and tuned FEU’s frontline up for 19 points, 15 boards and three blocks. Mark Jayven Tallo also had a stellar all-around game with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven dimes.