CEBU, Philippines - Even just a single glance at their lineup one could already make an impression that they are a formidable fighting force on the hardcourt.
They have a plethora of talents that could readily send shivers down the spines of their rivals. Simply put, the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras have all the key components to become a champion team again.
But with all humility, SWU coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba still downplays their chances of defending their basketball throne in this year's 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season set to kick off this Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum.
"Of course that is our goal, to defend our title. We have new talents at hand, but I can't say we are stronger now until we become champion again," said Alcoseba.
Under Alcoseba's command, the Cobras completed what is by far the greatest comeback in the league's 11-year history, wiping out an 18-point fourth quarter deficit to stun the University the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 73-72, in the classic finale of their best-of-five series and pocket their first CESAFI crown last season.
The Cobras then were led by the versatile Benuit Mbala, a 6-foot-6 Cameroonian banger whose spectacular performance during the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) made him an envy among Manila teams. Tempted by lucrative offers, it did not take long for Mbala to say goodbye to SWU and shift allegiance to the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP.
"Mbala's departure was a big loss for us because he was an extraordinary player," said Alcoseba. "But with our new big guys, we can compensate on that."
Alcoseba was referring to their twin Cameroonian towers in 6-foot-11 Fabrice Siewe, a 17-year-old behemoth who wears a size 17 shoes, and the 6-foot-6 Landry Sanjo, whom he described as an all-around player with sharp shooting ability.
"Siewe is a relatively young player whose skills still need to be polished. The good thing is that he keeps on improving and we're working doubly hard on it. He and Sanjo will surely add breadth to our campaign this season," said Alcoseba.
The Cobras only have three holdovers from their previous roster in top gunner Monbert Arong and hardworking forwards Bernie Bregondo and Daryl Goloran, but they easily filled up the slack by signing up Fil-Am players Francis Ortega, Adams Mohammad, and Melvin Holper as well as three veteran guards Nelson Otida, Jabe Bautista and Mark Panerio, who were formerly with the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.
They have also spotted Raymark Ocuno, a rromising 6-foot5 center from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, but it is a no-brainer among pundits that SWU's most valuable catch is no other than the spunky playmaker Mark Jayven Tallo, a former high school star from the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Baby Wildcats who had a brief stint with La Salle in the UAAP.
"Tallo gives us leadership. He will be our anchor for the next three years that he will be playing for us," said Alcoseba of his prized guard, who snatched the juniors MVP trophy after he steered the Baby Wildcats to their first ever CESAFI crown in 2010.
Alcoseba could safely say that they are now a bigger team with a deeper bench given his current set-up.
But the legendary Cebuano coach gamely admitted that they still have a lot of things to work on.
"We're bigger now with a deeper bench. We just don't know if it will show in our first four games," said Alcoseba. "Also, there are still some aspects of our game that we have to improve on like our passing and our defense."
With regards to their highly-anticipated rivalry with the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, Alcoseba said he doesn't think about it at all as they're preparing not just for one team for the league as a whole.
"The UV-SWU rivalry has been there for several decades already and there's nothing new about. We will treat it just like one of our games," said Alcoseba.
For now, the Cobras have set their focus on keeping their crown and they will take it one game at a time.
"It's a big challenge for us to score a repeat. It's not easy, but we will try very hard most especially that the Southwestern community is expecting us to be champion again." (FREEMAN)