SWU, UC seek No. 4 spot

CEBU - Bidding to end the elimination round on a high note, the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters have more important goal today and that is to grab the fourth spot when they take on separate rivals in the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

1 pm USPF vs. CEC (Jrs.)

2:30 pm USC vs. UV (Jrs.)

4 pm DBTC vs. SWU (Srs.)

5:30 pm UC vs. USPF (Srs.)

With the twice-to-beat advantage awaiting the fourth qualifier, either the Don Bosco College (DBTC) Greywolves or the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USPF) Panthers will play the spoiler’s role.

A victory by the Cobras over the Greywolves means a lot of pressure for the Webmasters to get past the Panthers in order to forge a 4-4 win-loss tie. Should this scenario occurs, it would be the Webmasters who will move up to fourth spot because of their 91-86 victory over the Cobras last August 3.

The Webmasters’ fate lies on the hands of the Cobras because if Don Bosco upsets SWU, it will no longer affect the UC-USPF game.

Last Thursday, back-up pointguard Richard Gon Tecson drilled in a crucial triple in the final 52.6 seconds of the contest to lift the Greywolves to a 76-68 victory over the Panthers and improve their win-loss record to 2-4.

It was still anybody’s game as the Panthers took a 69-68 lead with 1:21 left to play, but Tecson hit a triple and then Jun Colegado and Allain de los Santos conspired on a 4-0 swing that iced the Greywolves’ triumph.

Bull-strong center Chris de la Rama led the Greywolves with 16 points, while Colegado had 18 points and Rudy Enterina Jr. added 11.

 The Panthers were led by Moncrif Rogado with 26 points.

Meanwhile, the CESAFI will formally open its other events tomorrow morning before the start of the quarterfinal round.

In the other development, there will be a two-ball competition, slam dunk contest and 3-point shootout during the East vs. West All-Star Games on September 13 also at the Cebu Coliseum.

The scores

 DBTC (76) - De la Rama 16, Colegado 18, Enterina 11, delos Santos 9, Aldave 8, Quijano 4, Tecson 3, Añagap 3, Perturbos 2, Lumapas 2

 USPF (68) - Rogado 26, Laurente 13, Tabada 6, Bardilas 6, Avila 5, Monterde 4, Muñez 4, Rivera 3 Halftime: 34-37 - THE FREEMAN