CEBU, Philippines – Spunky playmaker Arrd Evan Diango sizzled as the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras overhauled a 14-defeat to turn back the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Grey-wolves, 67-63, in a non-bearing match that formally closed the elimination round of the 10th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) season last Sunday at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Greywolves opened up a 14-point lead, 28-14, with still 6:18 left in the second period, but Diango poured in quick seven points in an 8-2 run to pull SWU within just eight points, 22-30. He further pushed the Cobras closer, 28-32, before the Greywolves survived with a 35-30 lead at the intermission.
Diango topscored for the fourth-seed Cobras with 14 points.
Jefford Aldave finished with 18 points for the Greywolves, while Airell Tirado, whose last basket threatened the Cobras for the last time, 63-67, in the final one minute of the con-test, added 11 points.
The quarterfinals will start on Thursday, with topseeds University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, who are both armed with twice-to-beat incentives, will meet their respective no. 8 rivals in the collegiate and secondary divisions.
The Lancers will take on the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USPF) Panthers, the team that gave them a run for their money before pulling off with a hard-earned 67-59 victory last August 14.
On the other hand, first-time topnotcher CEC Dragons will go up against the University of San Jose- Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars, whom they beat by 14 points, 72-58, in their previous encounter. (FREEMAN)