USC, SWU begin title clash

CEBU, Philippines – Cebuano hoop fans will be treated to a different kind of championship showdown as the University of San Carlos Warriors and the Southwestern  University Cobras will clash for the first time in the history of local hoopdom.

The Warriors and the Cobras will begin their best-of-five title series in the 14th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament at 6:45 p.m. today at the Cebu Coliseum, right after the elimination match of the prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League or PCCL pitting the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos of Bacolod City against the Holy Trinity College of General Santos City at 5:15 p.m.

In another breakthrough for the league, the slambang double-header will be televised live nationwide by ABS-CBN through Studio 23.

It will surely be an exciting match-up to watch as USC and Southwestern University hold an even 1-1 record in their previous two meetings that both went down the wire. The Cobras drew first blood, 69-67, during their season-opener, but the Warriors got even via a 57-56 squeaker to bolster their status as the elimination round topnotcher.

The Warriors are hoping to end their 56-year title dought. They have their last taste of crowning glory in 1958 when they beat the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.

Interestingly, one of the players of that USC champion team is Julian A. Macoy, who currently serves as their consultant. Under the coaching guidance of the late Juan 'Dodong' B. Aquino  Sr., the other members of the team were lawyer Danilo Deen, Cesar Manalili, Agapito "Peping" Rogado, Maximo Pizarras, Esmeraldo Abejo, Manuel Bas, Reynaldo "Boy" dela Cruz, Roberto Reynes, Edgardo Galdo, Nilo Verona, Dionisio Jakosalem, Ernesto Misael, Gerald del Rosario and Boy Canda.

Fast forward to the present time, the Warriors are making their first finals appearance in seven years. They actually barged into the gold medal round for two consecutive seasons in 2006 and 2007, but lost to the UV Green Lancers in those occasions.

But that elusive title seems to be within the grasp of the Warriors owing to the presence of their well-rounded import in Shooters Olago who is well backed up by Espoir Toyambi and a slew of local veterans in Charles Pepito, Victor Rabat, Ian Ortega, and Nico Magat, Keifer Lim.

During their previous meeting, Olago, the All-Star MVP, gobbled up the defense of SWU on the way to a stellar 22-point performance. His hardcourt versatility makes him difficult to defend and without doubt he will be the main headache the Cobras need to ease out.

The Cobras, for their part, also have two reinforcements two count on in Landry Sanjo and Bendley Valdor.

How these foreign cagers provide leadership and pump in energy to their local teammates will matter most. Certainly, it will be a deciding factor in the entire series.

The Cobras also have a lot of talented local weapons such as Mark Jayven Tallo, Bernie Bregondo, JC Parker, and Mike Holper among others that the Warriors may have a hard time to contend with.

Games 2 and 3 are scheduled tomorrow and on Thursday, respectively. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will be on Friday and Sunday.  — with Gabby G. Malagar (FREEMAN)