Warriors, Cobras dispute last semifinal slot tonight

CEBU, Philippines - Now that the All-Star mania is over, all eyes are focused when the fourth seed University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and the fifth-ranked Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, both stepping into the hardcourt with crippled rosters, face-off today in a sudden-death duel for the last semifinal berth in the collegiate division of the 9th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

Games today

(Cebu Coliseum)

4:30 pm UC vs. USJ-R (Jrs.)

6 pm SWU vs. USC (Srs.)

The USC-SWU duel is set at 6 pm, right after Game 1 of the best-of-three semifinal battle in the secondary division between the topseed University of Cebu (UC) Junior Webmasters and fourth qualifier University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars.

Whoever triumphs in the Warriors-Cobras playoff will earn the right to face league front-runner UC Webmasters in the next round.

The Warriors already defeated the Cobras last October 4, 80-72, but CESAFI commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. forfeited their victory in favor of SWU after Tiukinhoy found USC star player Paul Joven guilty of violating Article A, Section 6 of CESAFI house rules phohibiting any player from taking part in other leagues while the season is not yet over.

Tiukinhoy, thus, ordered a knockout match today since the Warriors enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage over the Cobras.

One day after Joven was suspended for the rest of the season, Tiukinhoy meted the same penalty on SWU's Rene Pacquiao and Jefferson Pria of the Cobras for similar infringement of the CESAFI by-laws.

Tiukinhoy is strictly implementing the rules as a disciplinary measure to errant players.

The stern action also fell on the heads of slam dunk contestants Eulogio Lasala, Jr. of the University of the Visayas, Chester Curso of the Cebu Institute of Technology and Jefford Aldave of Don Bosco Technology Center.

The aforementioned players were banned for at least five games for not showing up in the Slam Dunk competition during last Sunday's All-Star Games sponsored by Grosby, leaving defending champion Elwin Durano of the University of southern Philippines-Foundation (USPF) Panthers to retain his crown unopposed.

In the showdown among the stars, the West swept the East although in hard-earned manner. In the collegiate level, the West of coach Roel Gomez went through rough waters before rolling past the East of coach Elmer "Boy" Cabahug via an 83-82 squeaker, while the West bantams of coach Reggie Licanda pulled off a close 100-95 decision over the Delfin Pepito, Jr.-mentored East squad.

The two giants in 6-foot-11 Gregory Slaughter of UV and 6-foot-9 June Mar Fajardo of UC comprised the Mythical Five along with Moncrief Rogado of UC, Ritchum Dennison of UV and Eliud Poligrates of SWU.

Fajardo and Rogado paced the West team with 16 points apiece, while Polgrates finished with 11 markers. Dennison topscored for the East with 17 points followed by Slaughter and Phil Mercader with 12 apiece.

The scores

West (83) - Fajardo 16, Rogado 16, Poligrates 11, Diango 9, Luceño 6, Armecin 5, Padillo 5, Colegado 4, Abella 2, Hermosa 2, Gallarde 2

East (82) - Dennison 17, Slaughter 12, Mercader 12, Pateño 8, Cincoflores 7, Rivera 7, Diputado 6, Lao 4, Duran 3, Amores 3, Dajalos 3 Halftime: 54-40     (FREEMAN NEWS)