Double shocker in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines – The Southwestern University Cobras and the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats knocked down their heavyweight rivals in a double shocker that literally electrified and glued the fans to their seats in the 15th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. men's basketball tournament yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.

Giovannie Luz dropped a 3-point bomb with one-tenth of a second left in the game to lift the Cobras to nerve-wracking 79-77 win over the previously undefeated University of San Carlos Warriors, while the Wildcats, drawing stellar performances from Alan Dimco, Joshua de la Cerna and Marlo Pono, also dropped a major bombshell when they slayed the heavily favored Lancers, 93-88.

Luz finished with 20 points, while Mark Jayven Tallo sparkled with 23 points as the Cobras exacted vengeance to the Warriors, who bested them, 62-74, during their season-opening assigment. Jan Michael Auditor and Jesse Bautista banged in 23 points combined as they bettered their win-loss record to 4-2.

Though the defending champs, the Cobras entered the match as the underdog playing without a foreign reinforcement in an undermanned roster of only nine players. But you don't ever underestimate the heart of a champions who are willing to fight to the death.

The Warriors were actually staring at victory as they had the ball possession while enjoying a 77-76 lead with less than a minute to play. However, Cameroonian import Shooster Olago was called for a three-second infraction that spelled their doom.

In the ensuing sequence, Tallo dribbled the ball around and just when the Warriors swarmed over him thinking that he will go for the last shot, the crafty playmaker wisely passed the ball to Luz, who was left wide open at the right wing.

Luz then showed nerves of steel by drilling in a booming triple that came like dagger to the hearts of the Warriors and their throng of cheering and drum-beating fans.

Olago finished with 20 points, while Victory Rabat netted 14 markers for the Warriors, who were greeted by a bitter loss after completing a six-game sweep in the elimination round.

Earlier, Dimco and de la Cerna charted 28 points each, even as they also combined for 15 rebounds, while Pono pumped in 17 markers for the Wildcats, who rattled the Lancers upon establishing a 12-point lead, 21-9, on Jeffrey Taghoy's 3-pointer late in the opening quarter.

The Lancers fought back with aplomb to erase the deficit and even wrested the driver's seat, 72-70, with only 22 seconds left in the third period but not for long as the Wildcats, after forging a 762-all deadlock, quickly grabbed the lead back, 85-73, for good at the final five-minute mark of the contest.

The Lancers were within striking range for the last time at 82-85 on basket by Jun Kent Manzo as the Wildcats kept their poise and composure to practically seal their third win in seven games with a 93-85 advantage with only 16 seconds left to play.

Manzo scattered 22 points, while Rey Suerte and Leonard Santillan banged in 18 and 11 points, respectively, but to no avail as the Lancers stumbled to their second loss against five wins. The missing link for UV was their Cameroonian import Steve Cedrick Akomo and veteran wingman Franz Arong, who were both held to a season-low seven and two points.

In the juniors division, Eroll Pastor darted 19 points on a spectacular 9-of-11 shooting from the field, Travis Jelour Mantua chipped in 18 as the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles blasted the University of Cebu Junior Webmasters, 76-62, to strech their unbeaten streak to six games, while the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars improved to 4-2 after drubbing the listless Don Bosco Technology Center Greywolves,71-42. (FREEMAN)