Cobras tame Lancers anew

Clinches No. 2 spot; UV loses twice-to-beat incentive for first time in 11 years

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras completed a rare two-game sweep of the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers with a crucial 71-67 win that earned them the no.2 spot and a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the semifinal round of the 11th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball season at the Cebu Coliseum.

The match was marred by throwing of plastic bottles and technical fouls were slapped on the two coaches.

The Cobras, undefeated in five games in the second round, were down by 12 points midway through the third period, 35-47, but responded with a 14-6 run to trim the deficit down to only four, 49-53.

The Cobras greeted the final quarter with a 5-0 run to wrest the driver's seat, 54-53.

Neither teams could control the tempo of the game in the final three minutes but after Bonifacio Guillena, Jr. gave the lead back to the Cobras, 64-62, at the final 3:10 mark of the contest, Eleazar Armecin sank a booming triple to pad their lead to 67-62.

Armecin later split his charities and Rene Pacquiao scored with a tip-in, giving the Cobras their largest lead, 70-62, with only 1:28 left to play.

It was right in that instance that at least three plastic bottles were thrown into the midcourt, while the coliseum barker announced that coaches Raul Alcoseba and Felix Belano of SWU and UV, respectively, were assessed a technical foul.

Belano was penalized for entering the court asking clarification from the referees, while Alcoseba was whistled as such for slamming the scorer's table.

In the ensuing play, Harold Cincoflores scored, 64-70, with 36.9 seconds and RJ Rios hit a garbage triple for the 67-71 outcome.

The Cobras, now sporting an 8-3 win-loss record, also beat the Lancers in the first round, 64-56, last August 20.

Guillena fired 22 points for the Cobras while Armecin added 19 points. Justin Aboude, who had at least three blocks against the UV players in one play during the final stretch, scored 13 points followed by Pacquiao with 11.

The Cobras will play against the defending champion and topseed University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters on Thursday, seeking for a 6-0 sweep in the second round.

Edrian Lao, Jerome Silva and Rene Jun Saycon all finished with 14 points for the Lancers, who lost a twice-to-beat advantage for the first time in 11 seasons. (FREEMAN)