SWU, UV cross swords anew

CEBU, Philippines - Longtime nemesis Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras and University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers lock up horns anew, this time for the solo lead in the semifinal round of the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cobras and the Lancers will slug it out at 6:45 pm, right after the other collegiate duel between the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR) Jaguars scheduled at 5 pm.

The well-rested Cobras rattled the Jaguars, 66-53, to extend their unbeaten streak to 8-0, while the Lancers dismantled the Warriors, 83-68, to set up another prestige match that is surefire blockbuster tonight.

Followers of the league are bracing for a SWU-UV finals showdown for the second straight year and the burden lies on the Lancers to prove that they are capable of beating the Cobras who have always been the major roadblock in their path to glory.

During their previous encounter last August 17, the Cobras came out victorious but not without passing through some scary moments before pulling off a close 70-66 decision against the spirited Lancers.

And the Lancers are itching to avenge that stinging loss.

"Our preparation for tomorrow's (today) game is that we want to stay hungry, play together and pray harder to our God," said UV head coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr.

The Cobras and the Lancers are both powered by Cameroonian bangers, an integral factor in their respective titular campaigns.

First to be considered is the match-up between the rock-solid Landry Sanjo and the 6-foot-11 goliath Fabrice Siewe from the SWU side and the equally-talented Mike Harry Nzessue and the lanky Steve Cedrick Akomo of UV.

Setting aside the foreign cagers, the Cobras and the Lancers also parade the best local players in the league.

Their offensive arsenals are replete with talents needed in a top level competition where the boys are separated from the men.

The Cobras have an excellent rotation of big men in Bernie Bregondo, Daryl Goloran, Farncis Ortega and Melvin Holper, a pair of deadly gunners in Monbert Arong and Mohammed Adam and a bunch of reliable pointguards led by the versatile Mark Jayven Tallo together with Nilton John Otida, Jacques Andre Bautista, and Mark Panerio.

The Lancers, for their part, have a deadly one-two pounch in reigning MVP Wowie Escocio and explosive pointman John Abad. Their comrades in the likes of Chris Yonnel Perolino, Arvie Cabañero, Raffy Octobre, Venhur Villamor, Vincent Mendoza, and Alfred Codilla are also capable of exploding at any given time.

With a nearly even manpower, hardcourt fans could expect another slambang showdown between the Cobras and the Lancers, the two powerhouse teams that authored the most storied rivarly in the chronicles of Cebu's premiere inter-school athletic league.

In the first game, the Warriors hope to score a repeat of their materful 80-59 conquest of the Jaguars during the elimination round. The presence of Cameroonian Ahmed Salihou is one huge advantage of the Warriors against the Jaguars, who merely depend on their local mainstays. (FREEMAN)