Green Lancers, Cobras dispute first seniors finals seat

Games today:

Cebu Coliseum

1 p.m. – CEC vs. UV (Jrs.)

2:30 p.m. – SHS-AdC vs. CIT-U (Jrs.)

4 p.m. – USJ-R vs. UC (Srs.)

5:30 p.m. – UV vs. SWU (Srs.)

THE UNIVERSITY of the Visayas Green Lancers and the Southwestern University Cobras get a crack at the first finals berth when the two powerhouse squads meet up for the second time this season in the semifinals of the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. men’s basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Three other semifinal matches will also be played today with the University of San Jose-Recoletos and the defending champion University of Cebu aiming to bounce back from their earlier losses at the start of this crucial round in the seniors division.

The juniors division will also see the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles aim to snatch the first seat in the finals when they take on the hard-fighting Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildkittens, who stunned the reigning champions UV Baby Lancers, 79-77, last Thursday.

UV hopes to get back into the thick of the hunt for a slot in the finals when it battles the Cebu Eastern College Dragons at 1 p.m.

All eyes will be on the main offing set at 5:30 p.m. between the Green Lancers and the Cobras, a rivalry that has stood the test of time since the days of the defunct Cebu Amateur Athletics Association.

First blood was drawn by UV as it prevailed over SWU, 95-86, in their first round encounter.

SWU appears to be a different team now, especially after it trounced USJ-R, 97-86, at the start of the semifinal campaign last Thursday.

In that game, Monbert Arong took center stage as he took the scoring cudgels left by rookie forward Ben Mbala and unloaded a season-high 38 points. Mbala fouled out from the game in the third canto.

Fellow Cameroonian Justin Aboude tallied 16 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks while Junrey Ortuyo chipped in 15 points./Correspondent Jonas Panerio