UV-USC duel to decide SWU's fate in CESAFI cage wars

CEBU, Philippines - While the University of the Visayas Green Lancers take on the University of San Carlos Warriors at the close of the  16th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. basketball semifinals today , expect the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras to anxiously wait for the result.

 That is because the outcome of the UV-USC match scheduled this 5:15 p.m. at the Cebu Coliseum will be the determining factor whether or not the Phinma Education-backed squad will advance to the finals.

Powered by the vastly improved 6-foot-8 Congolese import Quentin Nzuzi and a plethora of talents led by two-time MVP Mark Jayven Tallo, the Cobras are the heavy titles favorites but a stinging 53-65 loss to the Lancers did not only tarnish their once clean 12-0 slate, it also pack a strong blow that tend to knock them out of the finals race.

With a 2-0 record, the Lancers have one foot already in the finals.  They will only bow out of contention if they lose by at least 20 points to the Warriors, which is very unlikely to happen.

  On the other hand, the Warriors only need to win over UV by at least four points to refresh their title retention bid against   the Lancers and in the process drop the Cobras out of the championship picture.

    The Cobras, of course, must also have to beat the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars in their 6:45 p.m. encounter to give weight to all these probabilities.

Peeking at all angles though, the fate of the Cobras lies in the hands  of the UV-USC clash.

 And the Cobras could only hope and pray that the Lancers will dethrone the Warriors, then they take care of their business against the Jaguars. That's their only key to survival.

As to the insinuations of SWU's Tallo that the Lancers will purposely lose to the Warriors so that the Cobras will be eliminated, UV head coach Gary Cortes just laughed at it.

"We play each game either to win or not to lose. If we win, we win and if we lose, we lose. That's it," said Cortes.

 UV's previous two meetings versus USC went close. The Lancers drew first blood, 64-73, but the Warriors punched back via 58-54 decision.

"It's a tough game for us, but we will just do our best," said USC coach Rommel Rasmo. EBV (FREEMAN)