CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters needed extra five minutes to repulse the rallying Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, 91-84, and took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five championship series last Monday night in the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.
Francis Luigi Bercede flubbed one of the most important free throws perhaps of his career, missing a potential game winner and could only manage to tie the count at 75-all with only 9.5 seconds left in regulation.
Bercede, who finished with 15 points, gave the Webmasters a new lease on life after being down by five points for the second time, 75-70, more than two minutes left on a nice jumper by Rene Pacquiao.
The Webmasters, who outscored the Cobras in overtime, 16-9, were led by Junemar Fajardo with 23 points.
Fajardo had to sit out most of the way in the second period after commiting three fouls but relief center Alvin Labolabo was able to defend well the Cobras' 6-foot-6 center Justin Aboude, who eventually fouled out in the final three minutes of overtime and they were down by six points, 77-83.
From thereon, it seemed that the Webmasters looked good of winning with Fajardo already uncontrollable at the post area where he feasted on his shorter defenders. In fact, Cobras' coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba already offered a handshake with Webmasters' coach Roel Gomez in the final 24.5 seconds just after Nalos gave them their final two points.
Both Alcoseba and Gomez were assessed a technical foul in the game for excessive complaining.
Robinson Mohammad assured the Webmasters' victory, 91-81, in the final 54 seconds and scored 17 points, while Quinton Brian Heruela finished with 18 points.
Nalos, who would have been the hero for the Cobras, finished with 26 points while Pacquiao and Aboude added 18 and 15 points, respectively.
At 2-0, the Webmasters could sweep the final series in Thursday's Game 3, while the Cobras could only hope to hang on to avoid a shutout.
The scores
UC (91) - Fajardo 23, Heruela 18, Mohammad 17, Bercede 15, Pao 7, Ampoon 5, Caytuna 4, Labolabo 2
SWU (84) - Nalos 26, Pacquiao 18, Aboude 15, Guillena 7, Armecin 5, Bregondo 4, Casquejo 4, Ortuyo 3 Halftime: 43-35 (FREEMAN)