SWU stuns USC in Alberto's Pizza hoop

CEBU, Philippines - Southwestern University (SWU) stunned the topseed and previously undefeated University of San Carlos (USC) Team A, 66-61, to advance into the championship the 1st Alberto's Pizza Cup Nursing Edition basketball tournament at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) gym in Brgy. Lahug, this city.

Thus, SWU set up a title showdown with Cebu Doctors' University Spartans, who took the last trip to the final after kicking out sister-team CDU Nursery, 67-46.

SWU and the Spartans will slug it out for the crown in a sudden-death affair this Sunday at the same venue.

USC Team A dictated the pace of the match early on, closing the first period with a 21-15 lead but SWU fought back with savvy to wrest the upperhand at halftime, 35-31.

SWU maintained a shaky 50-49 edge after three quarters, but played steadier down the stretch to escape with a five-point victory that left the Carolinians in funeral silence.

In contrast, CDU Spartans had little trouble in terminating the depleted Nursery side. Though they strailed by three at the outset, 9-12, it was no problem for the Spartans as they quickly changed the tide of the match in their favor with a dozen-point advantage at halftime, 35-23.

After padding their lead to 16, 48-32, the Spartans continued their relentless offensive to hack out a 21-point blowout. (FREEMAN)