UV, SWU gun for finals berth

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras will lock themselves up in crucial match tonight at the Cebu Coliseum, with the winners earning an outright finals berth in the 12th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season.

The Lancers are seeking a repeat of their 95-86 victory over the Cobras when they collide anew at 6:15 pm, right after the other collegiate duel between the defending champion University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters and the University of San-Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars.

The Webmasters are in a must-win situation against the Jaguars as a loss will formally kick them out of their throne.

In the opener scheduled at 1 pm, the UV Baby Lancers will go up against the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons. The other juniors division match pits the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildkittens at 2:45 pm.

The Lancers of coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. will bank on their superior ceiling and a slew of reliable gunners in their bid of taming the Cobras anew.

Six-foot-seven Nigerian recruit Steve Cedrick Akomo will be at the forefront along with UV's other big men in Hernal "Wowie" Escocio, Rene Jun Saycon, Andrew Avillanoza, Chris Perolino and Rhaffy Octobre.

The Lancers can also count on Phil Mercader, Jerome Silva and Eman Calo as they seek for a return trip to the finals after being dislodged last season.

The Cobras, on the other hand, will rely on their Cameroonian twin towers in Justin Aboude and Benoit M'bala along with Bernie Bregondo, Jestoni Casquejo and Monbert Arong, who had a scintillating 38-point show in their 97-86 demolition of the USJ-R Jaguars last Thursday. (FREEMAN)