Monday, March 03, 2008 Deja vu in NSBC game: SWU Cobras devour UV
THE scenario of the 1996 National Inter-Collegiate finals was relived in 2008 as the underdog Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras again defeated the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in a tight 87-82 victory to win the 2008 National Students Basketball Championship title last night at the Cebu Coliseum.
As prize for winning, BAP president Buth Pichay announced that SWU will be Philippines’ representative to Xiamen, China next month for a series of exhibition games against international Chinese university teams.
With the help of BAP vice chairman Tisha Abundo and Fessap vice-chairman David Ong—the Cobras will travel free and will play against Xiamen University, Jimei University and Hoaquiao University in their stint in China.
Aside from this, SWU will lead two other Cebu teams—UV and third placer University of San Carlos Warriors--to the Asian University Basketball Championship which will be held at the Cebu Coliseum on June 20 to 27.
The win was very sweet for coach Dodie Miego, who had just re-grouped the team last year and started to play competitive basketball just for a year.
Spirit
Although their experience in the championship paled in comparison to the Lancers, SWU player displayed big hearts and defeated the Lancers in all facet of the game, especially in rebounding department where the taller UV was suppose to dominate, to take home their first title after the Cobras disbanded in 2001.
UV led only in three occasions—at 2-0 at the start of the game, at 12-10 at 2:43 and at 14-13 at 2:16 all in the first quarter—the rest was totally dominated by the Cobras which had its biggest lead at 13 points, 61-48, at the 3:50 mark of the third.
This domination of SWU was attributed to the nearly flawless games of center Clefford Maguate, who scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half, and point guard Elvid Poligrates, who also scored 12 of his 18 in the third.
While UV found it tough to break the 2-3 zone defense of SWU, the Cobras always found a way to score against the man-to-man defense of the Lancers.
“My instructions were clear, never allow UV to pull away and when we had the chance to pound on them and win the game we will go for that win. I never expected that the players would react quickly to each given situation and beat UV especially in the low post game,” said the jubilant Miego.
Strategy
Miego, who already downplayed the chances of his team after the conclusion of the semifinals, put more emphasis on its outside defense and played double team on UV’s big men most of the time.
UV was able to give the Cobras a scare in the end game when they suddenly cut a 74-83 deficit in the final 55.1 seconds to 82-83 still with 20.9 ticks remaining when Von Harry Lanete converted three free throws, nailed a triple and Harlow Villanil scored on a fast break.
However, Ardd Evan Django coolly sank two pressure-packed free throws at the 18.4 mark and team skipper Richard Gianchand converted two more foul shots at the 6.3 seconds after Lanete missed UV’s last hope to stay alive in the game and coach Elmer “Boy” Cabahug’s chance to win his first national title.
Close
Meanwhile, the USC Warriors defeated the University of Luzon in a heartstopping 115-105 win to claim third place while the UV Baby Lancers salvaged third place of the Inter-Secondary competition following a 115-105 win over University of Pangasinan. The Benedict International School of Quezon City won the high school title after beating Pilgrim Christian College 83-79.
Alfred Belande of SWU was named MVP of the tournament and was joined by Lanete, Enrico Llanto of USC, Marvin Macalalad of UL and Matt Carney of the Angeles University Foundation in the Mythical 5 Selection.
