Cobras arrange final duel versus Warriors

CEBU, Philippines - Cameroonian banger Landry Sanjo sparkled with 32 points as the Southwestern University Cobras survived the gritty University of San Jose Recoletos Jaguars, 75-72, to book the remaining finals ticket in the 14th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The Cobras, who marched into the finals for the fourth consecutive time, will play against the University of San Carlos Warriors in the best-of-five championship series beginning on October. 12

In the juniors division, the University of the Visayas Baby Lancers progressed into the semifinals following a hard-earned 57-53 victory against the University of San Jose-Recoletos Baby Jaguars, while the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Baby Panthers stayed alive after edging out the University of San Carlos Baby Warriors, 57-47.

After leading by as much as 16 points, 47-31, in the third period, the Cobras were shaken up a little bit when the Jaguars roared back in the fourth period and pulled within just two points, 72-74, on a basket by Mark Labares with 3.8 only seconds left to play. After Sanjo split his charities in the ensuing play, the Jaguars could have forced an overtime but Iron Suano, one of the hottest players from USJ-R's side, missed a desperation heave from the three-point arc as the time expired.

The Cobras will now have another shot at the title that slipped from their hands last year against the UV Green Lancers. It would be an interesting finale as the Cobras and the Warriors have not met in any finals before. This season, they have an even head-to-head record at 1-1.

Kevin Villafranca paced the Jaguars with 21 points, while Labares and Suano added 12 points apiece in a losing effort.

Earlier, Orlan Wamar topscored for the Baby Lancers with 14 points even as Theo Joshua Flores and Ramish Alforque had 10 points each.   

In the other juniors match, Ain Obenza caught fire in the third period where he scored 10 of his 23 points spiked with two 3-pointers to lead the Baby Panthers, who forged a knockout match against the Baby Warriors at 4 p.m. today for the last semifinals spot.

The scores

First game

UV (57) - Wamar 14, Alforque 10, Flores 10, Scahub 7, Escalona 6, Cabahug 6, Loreto 3

USJ-R (53) - Guro 13, Mutya 12, Lapinid 12, Divinagrcia 6, Rubas 6.

Second game

USPF (57) - Obenza 23, Bahio 15, Alocillo 8, Avancena 6, Carbajosa 3, Archival 2

USC (47) - Antigua 15, Malazarte 6, Galado 4, Sususco 4, Marvailla 4, Bande 4, Ehieverri 4, Sayson 2, Ting 2, Chavez 2

Third game

SWU (75) - Sanjo 32, Tallo 12, Pardo 9, Bregondo 5, Valdor 5, Luz 4, Holper 3, Goloran 2, Parker 1

USJ- R (72) - Villafranca 21, Labares 12, Suano 12, Regalado 9, Catipay 6, Senining 4, Luzoladio 3, Galvez 2, Navarra 2, Dinolan 1(GGM) (FREEMAN)