The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras overcame a brave challenge by the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights to escape with an nerve-wracking 95-93 victory in overtime and clinch the championship of the 1st Lionel E. Bacaltos Mayor’s Cup Cebu Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament the other night at the Sibonga Sports Complex.
Five SWU cagers dished out twin figures led by Alfred Belande with 24 points, underscoring their great team effort.
Explosive playmaker Ard Django cashed in 18 points followed by Clifford Maguate with 17 markers for the Cobras, who took full command in the first two quarters to take a 42-36 advantage at halftime.
The Cyber Knights, however, fought back with finesse in the third period to forge a 62-all standoff entering the last 10 minutes of the contest.
The Cyber Knights even took a 62-60 lead with less than a minute to play, but Lloyd Poligrates came to SWU’s rescue as he scored on a courageous drive with four seconds remaining in the regulation period, thus, the five-minute extension.
In the extra period, SWU and ACT fought tooth-and-nail, but the Cobras banked on their vast experience to subdue the Cyber Knights and take home the P50,000 grand prize. The Cyber Knights pocketed P30,000.
Ritchie Jalandoni contributed 14 points and Poligrates scored 12 for the Cobras, whose triumph surely gave them the needed morale-booster as they embark on a tougher challenge in the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season beginning tomorrow at the Cebu Coliseum.
The scores
Championship SWU (95) - Belande 24, Django 18, Maguate 17, Jalandoni 14, Poligrates 12, Litorja 6, Nuñez 4
ACT (93) - Vistal 27, Nuñez 22, Pontemayor 14, Paraguya 8, Batiancila 8,l Reyes 5, Doy 5, Valencia 2, Aparece 2 Quarterscores:19-15, 42-36, 62-62, 82-82 (Reg.), 95-93 (OT) –EBV