For third time, Cobras break Lancers’ hearts

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras reaffirmed their supremacy over the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers for the third time this season, 77-70, stretching their unbeaten run to 11 games in a row in the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Meanwhile, league commissioner Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. announced that the CESAFI Board, in a meeting last night at Choi City Restaurant, has decided to postpone the games in the juniors division until further notice.

Just like in their previous two encounters, the Cobras again found the Lancers a tough nut to crack, but they turned to the endgame heroics of heady playmaker Mark Jayven Tallo and their do-it-all Cameroonian recruit Landry Sanjo in drawing out another dramatic triumph over their bitter rivals.

Tallo pumped in 19 points and went 4-of-6 from the foul line in the final 17 seconds of the contest that sealed the deal for Southwestern U out of danger, while the 6-foot-7 Sanjo scored 18, including six straight points that extinguished the comeback flames that lit up by the Lancers midway in the final period.

The Lancers gamely fought back from an 11-point deficit late in the second canto, 29-40, and even seized the upperhand, 59-58, on a 3-pointer by John Abad, but Sanjo spoiled the jovial mood of UV and its throng of fans by spearheading a 7-0 blitz that suddenly put the Cobras on top by six, 65-59, with still 5:15 left to play.

The Lancers were within striking range for the last time at 73-70 on free throws by Benhur Villamor with 21 seconds remaining as things went awry for them from that moment on.

A nice defensive stop by Alfred Codilla could have forced Tallo to commit a crucial error in the ensuing play but UV's chance to pull even closer quickly disappeared after the referee whistled Codilla for foul, prompting the visibly disgruntled Lancers coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr. to fire expletives at the officiating officials. He was subsequently slapped with a technical that spelled UV's doom.

Tallo then made four of his six freebies, wrapping up another heart-pounding win for the Cobras. While the Cobras shot 17-of-21 from the stripe, the Lancers were a complete mess at the stripe, hitting only 17 of their 31 foul throws, something that Belano has to address as they go back to their drawing board.

Monbert Arong, who uncharacteristically committed three consecutive traveling violations in the third quarter, chipped in 17 markers for the Warriors, who gun for a 12-game sweep in the pre-finals phase when they take on the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors at the close of the semis tomorrow.  

Earlier, Miguel Tabaloc charted 19 points, while Christian Parker and James Regalado connived for 21 points as the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars ended their three-game slide in the semis with a 78-60 rout of the USC Warriors. (FREEMAN)