Read on for your weekly fill of action from Cebu’s collegiate basketball scene. Feel free to discuss what you think of your team’s placing and their chances for the crown moving forward.
#1 Southwestern University Cobras (3-0)
What else can be said except this: The Southwestern University Cobras have the University of the Visayas Green Lancers’ number. This, they reasserted once again as the reigning champions outlasted the Lancers, 80-76, in their much-anticipated match-up last Saturday. The Cobras have not lost to the Lancers in the Cesafi since Game Three of the Finals last season. After that, SWU has logged in one win after another, including last weekend’s gritty performance that saw them take the win and the solo lead in the standings in spite of numerous turnovers in the endgame. Lefty wingman Monbert Arong continues to impress as he broke out for 19 points for the second game in a row while Mark Jayven Tallo was once again, solid, with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
#2 University of the Visayas Green Lancers (2-1)
It goes without saying that it must be beyond disconcerting to consistently come up short against your bitter rivals when it matters most. This is the conundrum that the Green Lancers find themselves in after dropping a 76-80 decision to the Cobras last Saturday, the latest in an alarming skid to their age-old rivals dating back to last season’s championship series. Though they got stellar performances from their locals in John Abad (20 points) and Wowie Escosio (11 points, 12 rebounds), the same cannot be said of their imports as Mike Harry and Steve Akomo failed to register in double-figure scoring and was, by and large, ineffective all game long. Here’s hoping that head coach Felix Belano figures all this out soon, especially when the stakes get much higher.
#3 University of San Jose-Recoletos (2-1)
This team will go as far as their backcourt will take them. That much was held true in their previous game as the backcourt combination of James Regalado and Rendell Senining combined to score 17 of the team’s 21 fourth period points in beating the University of Cebu Webmasters, 70-65. The Jaguars found themselves in a 12-point hole but Senining, the rookie sensation from the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles and Regalado, a seasoned veteran, joined hands in rallying the team to their second win in three games. Need numbers to prove this point? In their only loss this season, Regadalo and Senining combined for just 23. Against UC, they had 33.
#4 University of San Carlos Warriors (1-1)
The team that holds the most upside started to live up to it this week as they registered their first win of the season with a 73-68 victory over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats. Like league powerhouses SWU and UV, USC also boasts of two African imports possessing stratospheric leaping abilities, which makes for must-see basketball. Ahmed Salihou, the better of the two, showed glimpses of his ability by scoring 15 points and adding eight rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal versus the Panthers while wingmen Stephen Que and Ian Ortega provided the perimeter punch with a combined 22 points.
#5 Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats (1-3)
You have to give it up for this Wildcats team that just keeps on clawing, fully aware of their capabilities and limitations. Entering the season, this team knew what it had and what it lost in the disqualification of leading scorer Allen Dimco due to academic deficiencies. In spite of that, the Wildcats just kept on fighting, with their efforts finally paying off with a 73-68 win over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers. The team also found a diamond in the rough in talented rookie forward, who scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds in that game against USPF.
#6 University of Cebu Webmasters (0-2)
What happens when a team that is known for its shooting starts misfiring? The answer: no wins and two losses. For years and even when June Mar Fajardo was still patrolling the shaded lanes of the Cebu Coliseum, UC’s impeccable outside shooting was its main weapon. Double down on the 6-foot-10 giant, ball is kicked out, swish! That was the beat that the Webmasters danced to on a nightly basis then. But now, without any known offensive threats to consistently speak of, UC still continues to hoist outside shots which are not finding their mark which has resulted in them getting clobbered by USJ-R in spite holding a 49-37 lead in the third period.
#7 University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers (0-1)
Surprisingly, the Panthers showed a lot of respectability in their first game. That is until, their only two credible threats fouled out one after the other. Thus was what happened against the CIT-U Wildcats when center Jomari Sollano and forward Art Camello, sat on the bench permanently, paving the way for a loss in their season debut. Until that point, Sollano had been lording it over the shaded lane, compiling 13 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks.
Jonas Rey N. Panerio
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