Cobras start bid in NCC with game against Archers

Games today:

Blue Eagle Gym

2 p.m. – SWU vs. La Salle

4 p.m. – San Beda vs. FEU

The stage is set for the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras to make some noise on a national scale as they do battle in the 2013 National Collegiate Championship semifinals today against the UAAP champions La Salle Green Archers at the Blue Eagle gym at the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

After several weeks of intense preparations following their Southern Islands title conquest against bitter rivals University of the Visayas, SWU will be pitted against a Green Archers team that is looking to hoist the PCCL crown for the first time since 2008.

However, La Salle will be playing without several key cogs in big man, Arnold Van Opstal, who suffered a leg injury just recently, and lead guard LA Revilla, who has since moved on to the PBA.

These developments open a window of opportunity for the wards of champion head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba to gain headway in the single round-robin semis.

Still, La Salle is expected to be a dangerous squad that is coming off a 74-all tie against NCAA champions San Beda in their charity exhibition game last Saturday.

Expected to lead the way for the green and white-clad cagers are UAAP Finals MVP Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros, Jason Perkins and Norbert Torres.

FORMER TEAM

The Cebuanos will be looking to counter with Cesafi MVP Mark Jayven Tallo, who will be facing off against his former team for the first time since his departure from the Taft-based campus in 2012.

“I’m excited to play against them,” Tallo said. “I want to show that I have improved my game and that eventhough I’m based in Cebu already, I still have what it takes to hang with the big boys in Manila.”

Aside from Tallo, also expected to bring the fight for the Cobras are Cesafi Mythical Five member Monbert Arong, Daryl Goloran, Bernie Gregondo and import, Landry Sanjo.

In the second game of today’s double-header, San Beda will battle the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.