UV-SWU rivalry restarts as Sinulog hoop unfurls

CEBU, Philippines - Bitter rivals University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras will open a new chapter of their hardcourt enmity as they clash right in the opening playdate of the Cebu City Mayor's Sinulog Cup 2014 Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Lancers and the Cobras will take on each other at 7:30 pm, right after the preliminary match between the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras at 5 pm. In between games, a simple opening ceremony will take place to be graced by Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama.

Unlike in their previous encounters, UV and SWU will fight it out not only for prestige but also for the huge chunk of the P100,000 bounty at stake in the four-day tilt sponsored by the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC).

Given their scathing decades-old rivalry, Cebuano hoop fans could expect another surefire blockbuster showdown between the Lancers and the Cobras, more so that they are coming off an epic head-to-head collision last year.

The Felix Belano, Jr.-mentored Lancers dethroned the Cobras in the 2013 season of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) in record-establishing fashion, becoming the first ever team to recover from 0-2 deficit and win a best-of-five title series in the league's 13-year history.  

But the Cobras, under the behest of legendary bench tactician Raul "Yayoy" D. Alcoseba, gallantly slithered their way to a sweet revenge when they disarmed and vanquished the Lancers to clinch the Southern Islands title and a chance at meeting the country's hardcourt giants in the more prestigious Philippine Collegiate Champions League  (PCCL).

After stunning the La Salle Green Archers and slaying the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, the Cobras were on their way to history only to falter at the hands of the Green Archers in their rematch at the PCCL National Finals. Nevertheless, the Cobras restored the faith of their diehard fans with that runner-up finish, a feat that the Lancers themselves achieved in PCCL nine years ago.

That makes the UV-SWU showdown more exciting, but they must not flirt with complacency as USC and USJ-R, though the underdogs, are both capable of smashing the upset axe on them.

The contending squads will play in a single round robin format, with the top two teams automatically slugging it out for the coveted crown in a winner-take-all affair. The champion will pocket P50,000, while the second to fourth placers will take home P30,000, P15,000 and P5,000, respectively.

Tickets are priced at P30 for upperbox, P50 for lower box and P100 for ringside. (FREEMAN)