SWU eyes recovery

AFTER getting tagged as the early favorites, doubts now hang over the Southwestern University Cobras after two straight defeats in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball tournament.

And tonight, the Cobras will shoot for redemption and a badly needed win to get their morale back as they play the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats in the main game following the University (USC) Baby Warriors and CIT-U Wildkittens high school game at 5 p.m.

The Cobras last loss was against the shorter and smaller University of Cebu Webmasters, who had the game under control by using its three-point shooting. It was so frustrating and sank the spirit of the team, which is now at 1-3 in the standings.

On its two losses, SWU’s offense faltered against a zone defense.

In its 80-72 defeat to the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), SWU succumbed to the 1-3-1 defense of the Jaguars, while the Webmasters used the 2-3 zone to neutralize the Cobras.

The presence of the two muscled Cameroonian recruits--Justin Aboude and Benoit Mbala, who played alternately—was easily dealt with in those losses. USJ-R and UC used big players – Matthew Parker for the Jaguars and Quinton Brian Heruela for the Webmasters – to push them out of their comfort zone.

However, although the Wildcats have no wide bodies or tall players who can neutralize
either Cameroonian players, coach Gilbert Demape is expected to use their quickness and better teamwork in tonight’s game.

Floyd Taboada, Allan Dimco and Axel Rabaya need to score more points than their usual production in order to give SWU a good fight.

But aside from the Cameroonians, Demape has to take care of the dramatically improving games of Bernie Bregondo and Hestoni Casquejo, who now play as alternative options on SWU’s offense.