CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) Magis Eagles applied the broom in ending their respective elimination round campaigns in the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Cameroonian banger Landry Sanjo bulldozed his way to 19-point finish on top of 13 rebounds, six steals and three assists as the Cobras easily smothered the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, 88-65, to complete a six-game sweep in the seniors division, while Jair Igna netted 18 points and Arnie Padilla unloaded 17 points and hauled the same number of rebounds as the Magis Eagles survived the USPF Baby Panthers, 70-65, for a perfect 8-0 record in the juniors battle.
Sanjo, who ate up the Panthers' defense with ease, nailed 11 markers in the second period including seven straight that put the Cobras on top by 14 points, 42-28, at halftime. It was cruise control for Southwestern U from there onwards.
Crafty playmaker Mark Jayven Tallo scored 10 of his 14 points to set up the offensive tone for the defending champs. The former Juniors MVP also picked up four steals, while the vaunted long-range bomber Monbert Arong also churned out 14 points for the Cobras, who virtually placed the win in their pockets with an unassailable 32-point lead, 75-43, with still 8:23 left to play.
The Cobras, thus, earned an outright berth into the semifinals for being the elimination round topnotcher, while the Panthers, winless in six games, will be the lowest seed going into the quarterfinal round where they will face the twice-to-beat University of the Visayas (UV) Lancers.