Cobras out to sting Archers in PCCL Finals

MANILA, Philippines -- Cebu pride Southwestern U coach Yayoy Alcoseba knows for his team to have a chance of duplicating its upset victory over reigning UAAP champion La Salle, it will need to limit, if not stop, Jeron Teng.

"We need to play really tough defense to beat La Salle again. We also need to find a way to make it difficult for Jeron Teng," said Alcoseba, whose Cobras are playing the Archers in a best-of-three championship of the 12th PCCL edition starting Sunday at The Arena in San Juan City.

Alcoseba knows too well that Teng, known as clutch player and his Finals MVP trophy he won by beating elder brother Jeric and the Santo Tomas Tigers in the UAAP Finals last October is a testament to that, is a potent force.

With Teng playing well, La Salle downed NCAA titlist San Beda, 64-60, in a knockout game last Thursday that booked it an interesting title showdown with Alcoseba's SWU, which clinched the first finals slot after routing an undermanned Far Eastern U, 86-71, the same day.

The Cobras also shocked the complacent Archers, 68-58, in overtime last Monday at the Blue Eagle Gym by holding Teng to just seven points after missing nine of the 10 shots he took and turned the ball three times.

And the Cobras will have to duplicate such feat or double their efforts as Teng is raring and itching to get back at them.

"Jeron (Teng) takes a lot of shots and I don't like it when he takes really hasty ones," said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. "But he's a clutch player and our go-to-guy so I guess he needs it to heaten up.

"You could also see in his face and actions that he really wants to win this tournament," he added.

SWU is staring at a date with destiny as it is seeking to become the first team from outside Metro Manila to top this annual tournament staking a cool P100,000 to the eventual winner and the bragging rights for a year as the best collegiate team in the land.

Already, the Cobras have become the first team from the Visayas to barge into the finals since the Greg Slaughter-led University of Visayas Lancers made it that far six seasons ago before losing to the Ateneo Eagles.

For Alcoseba, he is seeking his second national crown in almost three decades after he steered University of San Jose Recoletos, then headed by Jojo Lastimosa, Dondon Ampalayo and Zaldy Realubit, to the National Inter-Collegiate Championship triumph by beating Samboy Lim and the Letran Knights in Cagayan de Oro in 1985.

"It's been a while since I won a national title as a coach," said Alcoseba, himself a former USJR standout playing side by side with PBA legend Abet Guidaben.