Cobras overcome Panthers in CESAFI hoopla

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras overcame a sluggish start, then settled down in the fourth period to escape with a 74-69 victory against the hard-fighting University of Southern Philippines Foundation, (USPF) Panthers in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundatiton, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last Friday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Panthers went off to a blistering 21-3 start although the Cobras pulled within just two points at halftime, 41-43.

And owing to their twin Cameroonian towers in Benoit Mbala and Justin Aboude, it did not take long for the Cobras to seize control of the match.

Monbert Arong greeted the final period with back-to-back triples to give the Cobras their largest lead at 11 points, 64-53. From there onwards, they made life miserable for the Panthers, who last threatened at 67-69 on two free throws by Jomari Sollano with less than two minutes left in the contest.

Mbala, who had a significant improvement from the free throw line, topscored for the Cobras with 21 points, while Aboude chipped in 11 markers.

Arong and Jestoni Casquejo were the local mainstays who stood tall for the Cobras with 12 points apiece as they readily bounced back from a surprise 72-80 loss to the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars last August 4.

Joseph Sedurifa had a paltry 11 points for USPF, while Sollano and Earvin Dennis Ferraren each scored 10 in a losing cause.

The scores

SWU (74) - Mbala 21, Arong 12, Casquejo 12, Aboude 11, Ortuyo 6, Bregondo 4, Dedace 3, Nalos 3, Pajantoy 2

USPF (69) - Sedurifa 11, E. Ferraren 10, Sollano 10, Corcilles 9, Dajalos 8, Camello 8, J. Ferraren 6, Mesa 4, Moneva 3 Halftime: 41-43. - THE FREEMAN