Cobras’ straight path

WHILE the Southwestern University Cobras will march straight to the Round of 8, which is a shot away from the Final Four, two other Cesafi teams will strive harder to earn their spots in the 2012 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

The Sweet 16 tournament will start on Nov. 9 in Batangas and will have its stop at the Cebu Coliseum on Nov. 13 to 15.

The Cesafi runner-up, the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, and third placer University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars are in the Sweet 16 on Nov. 13.

But only one of them will advance to face the winner between the Visayas and Mindanao Champions game before they will play Cesafi 2012 champions SWU Cobras who are already seeded to the Southern Islands Championships on Nov. 15.

“That’s what we are preparing for right now. We know that we will meet the Cobras again. But, for now, we gave the team a week’s break,” UV head coach Felix “Donbel” Belano told Sun.Star-Cebu.

The Cobras also expressed their preparedness during the turnover of the championship trophy to their biggest contributor Michel J. Lhuillier at the M. Lhuillier Group of Companies Main Office at the North Reclamation Area yesterday.

Coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, SWU chairman of the board of trustees Maris Johanna Holopainen and athletic director Ryan Aznar handed Lhuillier the trophy in a ceremony that lasted nearly five minutes.

Lhuillier, in return, gave SWU a cash reward of P100,000 for their victory.

Meanwhile, aside from the best teams in the south, the Cebuanos will also see two Manila teams who are also seeking a slot in the Final Four.

UAAP third placer NU Bulldogs will be coming to play the NCAA third placer.

The Manila team, however, has no part in the Southern Islands Championship, which is again expected to be another blockbuster event.

However, the winner of the UAAP-NCAA game here will get the chance to take a shot for the Luzon-Metro Manila Qualifier.

The Southern Islands champion will join the Luzon-MM qualifier and the UAAP and the NCAA champions in the round robin game in the Final 4, which will be held in Manila starting Nov. 21.