Cobras snap skid by ending UV run

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras finally lived up to their lofty billing by beating the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament late Saturday.

Games tomorrow (Cebu Coliseum)

5:15 pm USC vs. USP-F (Sec.)   

6:45 pm USP-F vs. USC (Coll.)  

The win was first for the Cobras, who stumbled against two underdog squads. More than logging their first win, the Cobras also ended a three-game winning streak of the Lancers.

SWU was up by 15 points, 40-25, in the third canto and then suddenly almost had no answer to UV’s 15-4 run that made it, 44-40 with just 1:51 to go before the end of the quarter.

After looking like they were in shock for seven minutes, the Cobras closed the third period with a 6-0 blast to regain a 10-point lead, 50-40.

UV got back its bearings again with a 16-6 run to start the final canto that put them even with SWU, 56-all, after a basket by veteran Harold Cincoflores with 3:18 left in the ballgame.

SWU’s Bonifacio Guillena Jr. knocked in a triple to give his team back the lead then he scored on a short stab before splitting his charities to give the Cobras some breathing room, 62-56 with a minute left.

SWU center Justin Aboude, who stands at 6-6, hit a floater that gave his team a 64-56 advantage and the final tally.

Eleazar Armecin paced the Cobras with 15 points. His team is anticipating another tough battle against defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters on Thurs-day.

The 2-0 Webmasters recently saw action in the University Games in China.

Although winless as they faced teams from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, New Zealand and Japan, they considered the experience as something that would help them become better for the local league.

Aboude added 13 points for SWU while Guillena and Rene Pacquiao had 12 and 10 points, respectively.   

Abad led the Lancers with 11 points and Cincoflores added 10 markers.

The Cobras earlier lost to unlikely tormentors University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Panthers.

The scores:   

SWU (Coll) 64 - Armecin 15, Aboude 13, Guillena 12, Pacquiao

10, Nalos 7, Arong 4, Ortuyo 3   

UV (Coll.) 56 - Abad 11, Cincoflores 10, Lao 9, Silva 8, Saycon 4, Rios 4, Avillanoza 4, Mendoza 4, Cabañero 2. - THE FREEMAN