CEBU, Philippines – The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras banked on the endgame resiliency of sweet-shooting guard Cris Litorja to shackle the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 65-59, in the third playdate of the 10th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketbal season the other night at the Cebu Coliseum.
Litorja's crucial basket in the final 15 seconds of the contest gave the Cobras under new head coach Bong Begontes a 63-59 breather.
In the return play, Jaguars' rookie playmaker Benjamin John Capillar was whistled for an offensive foul against Aard Diango, who then calmly sank his twin gift shots to seal the deal for SWU.
Litorja finished with only six points but his late explosion mattered most for the Cobras. When the Jaguars were down by just two points, 59-61, Litorja first made a save a few meters away from their goal and then made another retrieval near their bench, allowing the Cobras to waste a few seconds.
Moments later, Litorja was left wide open for a jumpshot that rolled through the rim to the delight of the pro-SWU supporters.
Armed with Rene Pacquiao and Clifford Maguate in their defensive frontline, the Cobras overpowered the Jaguars at the painted area where they had several blockshots that even USJ-R big man Kurt Amores struggled scoring only seven points.
Diango, who filled in the vacuum left by Eliud Poligrates, led the Cobras with 16 points, while Pacquiao and Maguate tossed in 3 and 10 marker, respectively.
As evident of how emphatic the Cobras' stonewall defense against the Jaguars was, no USJ-R player finished in double figures as top gunners Jun Lapiz and Edwin Bibera managed only nine points apiece. (THE FREEMAN)