SWU opens campaign against Ateneo today

CEBU, Philippines - Reigning CESAFI men's basketball champion Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras formally begin their tough title quest when they clash with UAAP five-peat titlist Ateneo Blue Eagles at the start of the 7th Filoil Flying Premier Cup today at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Cobras and the Blue Eagles will take on the floor in the 6 pm mainer, right after the La Salle Green Archers battle the University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers at 4 pm.

In the season-opener at 2 pm, the National University (NU) Bulldogs will kick off their title defense against NCAA grandslam champion San Beda Red Lions.

Southwestern U is the first ever provincial team to have been invited to play in the prestigious league since its inception in 2006, mainly because of its impressive showing in last year's Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL).

The Cobras then were led by their prolific Cameroonian recruit Ben Mbala, who is now with La Salle. The 6-foot-7 banger, however, could not yet don the Green Archers' jersey because of residency rules requiring him to undergo a two-year residency before he could play.

To fill in the void left by Mbala at SWU, coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba enlisted another hulking Cameroonian rim-rattler in Fabrice Siewe. He just turned 17 years old last February, but Siewe's 6-foot-11, 220-frame could easily make him an intimidating force on the hardcourt. 

Aside from Siewe, Alcoseba will also parade his Fil-Am recruits Melvin Holper and Francis Orgeta together with Jabe Bautista, Nilton John Otida and Mark Panerio, who previously played for the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

They are all expected to jack up the firepower of SWU's old reliables in Mobert Arong, Bernie Bregondo, Darryl Goloran, Justin Aboude, Merbien Didace, Cris Lopez, and John Pajantoy.

The Blue Eagles, on the other hand, will field in athletic Fil-Am Chris Newsome but may opt to sit out the talented Cebuano playmaker Jerie Pingoy, who is the central figure of the controversial rule change slapping a two-year residency on rookie transferees.

SWU, Ateneo, La Salle and UST are bracketed in group B along with the University of the East (UE) Red Warrios, San Sebastian College Stags, Letran Knights, Lyceum Pirates, Arellano University Flaming Arrows, and Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals.

NU and San Beda banner the list of Group A contenders that include Perpetual Help Atlas, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, Adamson University Falcons, University of the Philppines (UP) Maroons, St. Benilde College Blazers, and Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers.

The event, which is being used by the schools to sharpen up for their respective collegiate leagues, is staking a top purse worth P400,000 for the champion and P150,000 and P75,000 for the second and third placers, respectively.  (FREEMAN)