THE Southwestern University (SWU-Phinma) Cobras are back at the pinnacle of local basketball after bagging the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Partners Cup 2019 men’s crown.
The Cobras flashed their all-around brilliance to pull off another stunning win over the ARQ/Builders University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 74-65, in Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series on Sunday night, Aug. 4, 2019 at the Cebu Coliseum.
SWU-Phinma dropped a 25-11 rally in the fourth period to erase a five-point deficit en route to winning the preseason title with a 2-0 sweep against the erstwhile champion UV.
The Cobras were down 54-49 at the start of the payoff period before a 15-6 blitz punctuated by a Red Cachuela jumper giving the Cobras a 64-61 edge with 2:44 left.
UV’s import Lass Coulibally stopped the bleeding with a pair of free throws, but the Cobras were quick to return fire with William Polican, Cachuela and Lamine Thiam conniving for a 5-0 run to push SWU to a 69-63 lead.
Green Lancer Ted Saga drilled a three-pointer with 39 ticks to play before Shaquille Imperial and Thiam put up the finishing touches of the nine-point win.
“We did not shoot that well compared to the last game but our defense stepped up for us,” said SWU-Phinma head coach Mike Reyes. “UV played well and I just salute my players for playing hard.”
SWU’s import Thiam was all over the court, playing great defense on top of 23 points. He was named the preseason MVP.
“I can’t say anything to him. He does what the team needs. He played great defense. He showed all-around brilliance. When we need the scoring, he scored and when his teammates were scoring he got the rebounds,” Reyes said of Thiam.
Cachuela finished with 12 points, Imperial added 11 points, while Polican contributed 10 points.
The Green Lancers led the Cobras, 29-21, at halftime after the nip-and-tuck opening quarter that saw the former leading only by one, 22-21.
Gileant Delator and Lass Coulibally paced UV with 14 points apiece.
Reyes said the team will prepare really hard for the upcoming 2019 Cesafi regular season.
“We have shown all our cards; the preseason lineup will be our team in the regular season. We are going to prepare hard. We know that the other teams are still working on the lineup,” he said.
On the other hand, the Cebu Landmasters/Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles staved off the late surge by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 71-67, to take Game 2 and force a deciding game in the high school championship match.
The Baby Jaguars started the payoff period with a 10-0 run to get within two points after being down 49-61 at the end of the third quarter. USJ-R tied the game at 67-all after Santos Go split his free throws with about two minutes left.
SHS-AdC held their opponent scoreless in the last two minutes to walk away with the pulsating four-point win. Joey Villamor converted two free throws with 38.9 seconds left before USJ-R missed a three-pointer on the other end.
John Aguilar calmly sank two free throws with 27.8 seconds to give SHS-AdC a four-point lead. The Baby Jaguars failed to convert on their possession and the Magis Eagles evened the series at 1-1.
Reymark Narbasa led the Magis Eagles with 17 points, Mike Boniel chipped in 13, while Joey Villamor and John Aguilar added eight points each.
Kevin Guibao’s 26-point explosion went to naught as USJ-R failed to secure the crown in Game 2.
Game 3 will be on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019 at 4 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum.