THE Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras showcased their veteran savvy in the endgame as they clipped the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 66-61, in the 2019 Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

The win boosted the Cobras’ record to 5-2 (win-loss) while USC fell to 4-3.

Senegalese forward Lamine Thiam and Dyll Roncal led the Cobras with 13 points apiece, the former adding 19 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Roncal also had seven rebounds including the go-ahead basket and a pivotal offensive board with just seconds left in the game that helped seal the victory for SWU-Phinma.

Big man Red Cachuela added 12 points and eight rebounds before sitting out the final moments of the game after spraining his ankle.

The game was tied at 61-all when Roncal broke free after setting a back pick, and received a pass from William Polican for an easy two to give the Cobras a 63-61 lead with 38.1 seconds left.

Then, after USC’s Roosvelt Jelianggao missed a corner triple, Thiam was fouled and made the first before missing the second. However, Cobras forward Gerald Fernandez grabbed the offensive rebound and got the ball back to Thiam who once again got fouled.

Thiam then missed both but Roncal secured it and passed it off to Polican who received an unsportsmanlike foul from USC’s Jules Langres. Polican made one of two free throws, and later, Roncal iced the win with another make from the charity stripe. (SunStar Cebu)