Last year’s finalists University of Cebu and Southwestern University face off anew

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

5 p.m. – UC vs. USJ-R (Jrs.)

6:30 p.m. – SWU vs. UC (Srs.)

The names on the marquee may have changed, but the goal to outplay one another is expected to remain the same when the reigning champions University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters take on the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras today in a rematch of last year’s hotly contested finals in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc.  men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cobras (1-1) certainly have an axe to grind against the Webmasters (1-2), the same team that outlasted them for the title last year, 3-2, in the best-of-five championship series.

However, the Cobras will be looking at a team that looks a lot less like the formidable one of recent times and more of the rebuilding one of yesteryears.

Gone from UC are June Mar Fajardo, the 6-foot-10 giant that is projected to be the top pick in this year’s PBA Draft,  Edward Pao, the person responsible for the game-winning three-pointers in crunchtime of Game 5 last year, and  Luigi Bercede.

The Cobras are also looking different this year as they are missing the services of Eleazar Armecin and Rene Pacquiao, the persons mainly responsible for bringing them to the finals last year.

Remaining with the team is Cameroonian center Justin Aboude, who will be backed up by his compatriot and rookie star Ben Mbala.