SWU, USJ-R now 2-0 in Partners' Cup

CEBU - The Hotel Fortuna-backed SWU Cobras banked on a strong endgame kick to knock down Enervon C/UC Webmasters, 89-79, while the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/USJ-R Jaguars playfully scored a 72-60 decision over the Lion-Tiger/USC Warriors in the 3rd CESAFI Partners’ Cup played last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Thus, the Cobras and the Jaguars shared the temporary lead with similar 2-0 win-loss records.

After enjoying a slim two-point edge at halftime, 41-39, the Cobras unleashed their offense at will in the third quarter to slowly tear the game apart. They sustained their relentless offensive in the windup to mount an unassailable 74-56 lead with 5:49 left to play, leaving the hapless Webmasters groping for form the rest of the way.

The Webmasters, known for their endgame resiliency, rallied back but the closest they could come was at 73-80 on an excellent acrobatic shot by Kevin Quilantang with 2:29 remaining.

Instead of keeping up the rally, the Webmasters got a dose of their own medicine as they committed two straight errors, enabling the Cobras to wrap up the match with four straight points.

It was actually a breakout game for Quilantang who finished with 19 points, but not even the 20-point production of 6-foot-9 UC beanpole June Mar Fajardo could spare the Webmasters from falling to 1-1 just a day after scoring a hard-earned 84-81 victory over the CDO Idol Cheesedog/USPF Panthers.

Aside from orchestrating their plays smoothly, wily guard Aard Diango topscored for the Cobras with 14 points alongside Eric Zanoria. Alfred Belande cashed in a dozen markers followed by Richard Ganchiand with 10.

In that particular game, Diango proved to be more effective than the Webmasters’ three-guard rotation in Kelvin Juliane, Lawrence Agas and Jeffrey Alviva.

Janssen Abella, whose triples threatened the Cobras for a while in the payoff period, finished with 15 points.

Later in the day, the Ave Maria/USJR Jaguars coasted to a 63-33 lead in the fourth period before pulling off a 72-60 victory over the Warriors.

Ranulfo Malinao, Kurt Amores and Armand Ponce led the Jaguars’ offense with 36 points combined.

Ryan Carlo Padayao had 16 points for the Warriors, who slipped to 1-1 in a tie with the Webmasters, Prime Asia/UV, and CDO Idol/USPF.

The scores

First game

Hotel Fortuna/SWU (89) - Diango 14, Zanoria 14, Belande 12, Gianchand 10, Nuñez 8, Jalandoni 8, Maguate 5, Poligrates 5, Gallarde 4, Pacquiao 4, Armecin 4, Litorja 1

Enervon C/UC (79) - Fajardo 20, Quilantang 19, Abella 15, Ramos 6, Rogado 6, Agas 5, Pao 4, Juliane 3, Babad 1

Second game

Ave Maria/USJ-R (72) - Malinao 15, Amores 11, Ponce 10, Bibera 9, Llera 6, Delfino 4, Pateño 4, Lapiz 3, Duncan 3, Villaver 3, Alquizola 2, Montenegro 2

Lion-Tiger/USC (60) - Padayao 16, Cantonao 10, Bercede 8, Vitug 8, Padillo 5, Codilla 2, Bautista 2, Blanes 2, Hermosa 1 (THE FREEMAN)