CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras squandered a 19-point lead but recovered in the fourth period to exact vengeance over the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 72-64, last Saturday in the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Cobras, who lost to the Warriors in the first round, were in a scoring frenzy in the third period where they ripped the game apart, leading by as much as 19 points, 50-31.
But the Warriors showed their resiliency and pulled within just seven points, 52-59, midway in the fourth quarter. They also exploited the Cobras' early foul trouble where they entered into the penalty at the final 8:29 mark of the contest to the disappointment of SWU coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba.
For the second straight game, Justin Aboude could not control his foul and trooped to the showers along with 11 points. He also fouled out when they escaped with a 66-62 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers.
Joseph Nalos led the Cobras with 21 points, 14 of them in the second period when he almost single-handily carried their offensive load.
Eleazar Armecin chipped in 16 points as he and Rene Pacquiao joined efforts to keep the Cobras going into the distance.
Michael Cantonao paced the 4-4 Warriors with 16 points.
Earlier, the smaller University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters upset the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, 73-68.
The scores
Juniors
UC (73) - Armenion 17, Trangia 16, Nemeño 15, Almario 8, Bacalaso 7, Orquez 6, Grafilo 2
USJ-R (68) - Hermosilla 14, Cuyos 11, Mumar 7, Suson 6, Bayucot 6, Barbosa 5, Bacatan 5, Viajar 4, Yap 4, Camara 2, Subingsubing 1
Seniors
SWU (72) - Nalos 21, Armecin 16, Aboude 11, Pacquiao 10, Guillena 8, Ortuyo 4, Castro 2
USC (64) - Cantonao 16, Padillo 9, Hermosa 8, Otida 6, Codilla 6, Cortes 5, Panerio 4, Reyes 4, Magat 3, J. Cortes 2, Bautista 1 (FREEMAN)