Cobras go for jugular; Lancers fight for life

CEBU, Philippines - The streaking Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras shoot for a 3-0 sweep, while the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers are all set to lay down their last card when they clash anew in Game 3 of their best-of-five finals series in the 13th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Armed with a commanding 2-0 advantage, Southwestern U could wrap up a rare back-to-back championship with another victory over the Lancers in their 4 pm tussle, right after the University of San Carlos (USC) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars mix it up in a knockout Game 3 for the third place trophy.

The Cobras are heavily favored going into match having beaten the Lancers in their past five meetings this season as they went on to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games in a row. Also, no team has come out from such a deep hole since the league's inception in 2000.

SWU frustrated UV by a margin of just five points in their first three bouts, but the Cobras unleashed their fatal venom in the finals, crushing the Lancers by 12 points in the opener, 64-52, then followed it up with a 73-60 decision anchored on a 15-0 third-quarter bomb in Game 2 last Thursday.

The way they dominate the Lancers, the Cobras are bound to complete a clean sweep and end what had been an amazing year for them undefeated.

But for now, that is far from the mind of SWU's legendary coach Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba.

"I don't think about the sweep, that's why there is no much pressure on my part. We just play our game and take it one at a time. It's not all about winning against UV. The ultimate thing is that we will win this championship," said Alcoseba."We're on a 14-game winning streak but we haven't achieved anything yet. Our unbeaten run is nothing until such time we would be able to defend our crown."

Alcoseba's only has three holdovers from his previous champion team in Monbert Arong, Daryl Goloran and Bernie Bregodo.

The Cobras also lost the versatile Benuit Mbala but surprisingly they're getting even stronger this season with the presence of the flashy playmaker Mark Jayven Tallo and two Cameroonian giants in Landry Sanjo and Fabrice Siewe, who, despite his relative inexperience in playing hoops, is an intimidating force at the frontcourt owing to his 6-foot-11, 245-pound frame.

Southwestern U has several other weapons in its offensive arsenal in the likes of Mohammed Adam, Francis Ortega, Mark Panerio, and Jabe Bautista, making them a formidable hardcourt force to conquer.

The Cobras, however, should not be overly confident as the Lancers, with back against the wall, will surely wage an all-out war with hopes of preventing an embarrassing shutout at the hands of their bitter rivals.

"As they say, the ball is round. Anything can happen. In just a little while, God will reward our hardwork," said UV coach Felix "Donbel" Belano, Jr.

As they fight for dear life, the Lancers will miss the services of their starting guard Francisco Arong, who will served his one-game suspension after being slapped with a disqualifying foul against SWU's Monbert Arong in Game 2.

Thus, the likes of Wowie Escocio, Raffy Octobre, Chris Perolino, and Arvie Cabañero should work doubly hard to compliment the tandem of John Abad and Mike Harry Nzeusseu. Gunners like Alfred Codilla, Benhur Villamor and Nico Marquez should also make no room for mistake everytime they launch long-range shots. (FREEMAN)