SWU, UC dispute Cesafi seniors hoop title today; juniors series moved to tomorrow

Game today:

Cebu Coliseum

5:30 p.m. – SWU vs. UC

In this game of thrones, only one can be king. And that kingship over the seniors division of the 2011 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament will be disputed today between the reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras as they battle in the deciding Game 5 of the finals at the Cebu Coliseum.

Momentum appears to be on the Cobras side as they have risen far and above expectations to dig themselves out of a 0-2 hole. SWU is on the cusp of history as they try to become the first team in Cesafi history to come back from a 0-2 series deficit. Game time is set at 5:30 p.m.

At the helm of that comeback is the sheer will and coaching genius of one Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, who has masterfully engineered this fightback with ferocious defense and some impressive shotmaking from Eleazar Armecin, Justin Aboude, Rene Pacquiao, Bon Guillena and point guard Joseph Nalos.

Things appeared bleak for the Cobras as they lost Game 1, 84-87, and folded in overtime to also lose Game 2, 84-91. But the tides changed and the momentum shifted in Game 3, which SWU took in dominating fashion, 95-57. The Cobras won once again in Game 4, 67-65.

The Webmasters, though, are not expected to roll over and give their crown up without a fierce war. But in order to carry out their aspirations of a second straight title, they must get more from star center, 6-foot-10 giant, Junemar Fajardo, who was held down to a paltry 15 points, none of which came in the fourth period, in Game 4.

Much is also needed from Robinson Mohamad, Edward Pao, Luigi Bercede, Brian Heruela and Jan Auditor if a repeat is to be celebrated tonight.

JUNIORS FINALS MOVED

Meanwhile, Game 5 of the best-of-five championship series in the juniors division between the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers has been moved to tomorrow, 5:30 p.m., at the same venue.

The game was moved because of “security reasons” according to Cesafi commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy.