THE Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras may have fell short in their bid to bring the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) title down to the south but they came home feeling like champions, armed with vital lessons to help them improve in their future battles in the Cesafi.
After getting swept in the best-of-three finals by the UAAP champions La Salle Green Archers following their 61-70 defeat in Game Two last Tuesday, the Cobras settled for second place and the P300,000 cash grant that came with it.
But for decorated head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, the experience of representing Cebu and the school and then making it all the way to the finals was an achievement that was worth more than the prizes.
“We may be just the runners-up but we sure feel like champions,” Cebu Provincial Member Alcoseba said in an interview yesterday morning. “Entering the finals was an achievement in itself. Puros ‘to sila mga powerhouse na teams and nobody expected us to make it all the way to the finals.”
The Cobras turned heads with their gutsy play in the tournament especially in their 68-58 overtime win over the Green Archers during the first day of the semifinals. And though they lost to NCAA titlists San Beda in their next game, the Cobras bounced back and trounced Far Eastern University to make their way to the finals.
However, ranged against a La Salle team that vowed to get revenge, the Cobras found themselves overmatched especially in the experience department, something that Alcoseba unashamedly admitted.
“The bottom line is that we lacked experienced. Our perimeter shot was inconsistent and our decision-making was suspect. We simply lost to a better team,” Alcoseba said.
The loss though did little to dim SWU’s dreams of one day hoisting the national championship and Alcoseba divulged that the wheels are in motion to forge a better squad, one that readily-armed to fulfill that ambition. He also added that they are currently in the hunt for a point guard, a shooting guard and another big man to shore up their rotation.
“We made it to the finals this year but we want to be champions one day.” /Correspondent Jonas Panerio