CEBU, Philippines - The fourth-ranked Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras entered the semifinals in their most precarious win of the season, a 77-75 escape over no. 5 qualifier Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats last Friday in the 10th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) at the Cebu Coliseum.
In the juniors match, fourth-seed University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers eliminated the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors, 67-62.
Leading by as much as 13 points at the start of the third period, 46-33, the Cobras were looking good of a smooth-sailing victory because they were maintaining a double-digit lead the rest of the quarter.
However, the Wildcats started strong in the fourth period where they unloaded a 16-7 rally to tie the count at 65-all on Jose Allan Dimco's short jumper with still 4:14 left in the contest.
Moments later, Karen Rick de la Cerna sank a triple to put the Wildcats on top, 68-65, but was later on erased after Arrd Evan Diango hit his own version of a trey, 72-71, with 1:22 left to play.
The last time the Wildcats were ahead was at 73-72 as the Cobras took a breather by answering four straight points.
Again, Diango saved the day for the Cobras with 19 points. Rene Pacquiao and Eleazar Armecin had 16 points apiece, while Clefford Maguate added 13 markers.
Arnel Ipang had 19 points for the short-handed Wildcats. Chester Curso added 13 points, while Floyd Taboada and Dimco each scored 12.
Earlier, Vincent Mendoza, Gerald Legarde and Michael Cenita had a corresponding 15, 14 and 13 points for the Baby Lancers, while Prince Vaughn Malana paced the Baby Wariors with 16 points followed by Anthony Guy Romaguera and Arsenio Uy with 10 points apiece.
The scores
First game
UV (67) - Mendoza 15, Legarde 14, Cenita 13, Aguirre 6, Nunez 5, Smith 4, Suan 4, Denniosn 3, De la Torre 3
USC (62) - Malana 16, Romaguera 10, Uy 10, Bacaltos 9, Palapar 7, Pajantoy 5, Guardiario 3
Second game
SWU (77) - Diango 19, Pacquiao 16, Armecin 16, Maguate 13, Litorja 8, Pria 2, Jalandonie 2, Wagas 1
CIT (75) - Ipang 19, Curso 13, Taboada 12, Dimco 12, Dela Cerna 9, Canete 6, Cabanero 4 (FREEMAN NEWS)