Phinma/SWU logs second win in CESAFI Partner's Cup

CEBU, Philippines - Phinma/Southwestern University Cobras eased through a 77-67 victory over the slumping Tyron Properties/University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers to stay unbeaten in the 8th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) Partner's Cup last night at the Cebu Coliseum.

Shaquille Imperial topscored with 16 points spiked with five three-pointers as the Cobras joined Worthy-University of the Visayas Green Lancers atop the leaderboard on identical 2-0 slates.

The comebacking Bernie Bregondo also had 16 points, while back-to-back CESAFI MVP Mark Jayven Tallo chipped in 11 markers, including a triple that handed the Cobras their biggest lead, 63-47, with still seven minutes left to play.

The Cobras sprinted to a 19-11 start, but the Panthers staged a daring figthback in the second canto to crawl within just two points at halftime, 36-34.

A recharged Cobras, however, whipped up a furious third-quarter storm to suddenly rip the game apart with a 57-44 edge on a triple by Tallo off a nifty assist by Anton Pardo with only 25 seconds into the fourth.

It was cruise control for the wards of coach Raul "Yayoy" Alcoseba from thereon, establishing a 16-point advantage twice, the last was at 75-69 at the final 1:43 mark of the contest. The Panthers couldn't get any closer than 10 points.

 Lyndon Colina sparkled with a game-high 23 points but went home on a pensive mood as the Panthers crashed to their third loss in as many starts.

As of this writing, the Highlands Corned Beef-University of Cebu Webmasters were slugging it out with My Led Opto/Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats, hoping with earn a share of lead with Worthy/UV and Phinma/SWU.— EBV  (FREEMAN)