SWU nips CDU Spartans to win Alberto's Pizza cage title

CEBU, Philippines - Nick Cornelio split his charities in the final three seconds of the contest and it did spell big difference, powering Southwestern University (SWU) to a spine-chilling 72-71 victory over the Cebu Doctors' University (CDU) Spartans and win the championship of the 1st Alberto's Pizza Cup-Nursing Edition basketball tournament recently at the Univertsity of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) gymnasium.

The SWU mainstays dictated the pace of the match in the early goings, but Ram Enriquez and Alnico Surpia sparked as spirited fourth-quarter uprising to push the CDU Spartans on top by seven with only 1:30 left to play.

But SWU charged back with finesse behind the efforts of team captain Keith Mendez and the lion-hearted Cornelio to pull within two points, 69-71. Moments later, Cornelio sustained what had been a spectacular showing by dishing out an alley-oop pass to Pangatungan and in the process tied the count at 71-all.

Having the final possession, the Spartans had a chance to wrap up the match or at least go into overtime but they missed their ill-advised attempt.

Cornelio plucked the defensive rebound and was quickly fouled with three ticks remaining before the final buzzer. Cornelio sank only one out of two attempts but it was more than enough to catapult SWU into seventh heaven.

Mendez topped SWU with 24 points followed by Cornelio and Gendrauli with 19 and 17 markers, respectively. Enriquez topped CDU with 19 points, while Surpia had 17 in a losing effort.

Earlier, the University of San Carlos (USC) Team A hammered the CDU Nursery, 64-45, to lift the third place trophy. The Carolinians never looked back after a strong opening statement, 25-8. They closed the first half with a 36-20 advantage and then parlayed it into a 19-point blowout.

The scores

For third

USC-A (64) - Lapa 12, Te 11, Dagani 10, Ngoboc 10, Dumalag 8, Sta. Cruz 6, Herbier 3, Ferolino 2, Chiong 2

CDU Nursery (45) - Abad 10, Floren 8, Corominas 7, Yburan 6, Cabz 5, Cabelie 4, Abuyador 3, Floren 2

Quarterscores:25-8;36-20;48-33;64-45

Championship

SWU (72) - Mendez 24, Cornelio 19, Gendrauli 17, Pangatungan 9, Isiderio 2, Jaca 1

CDU Spartans (71) - Enriquez 19, Surpia 17, Martin 9, Perez 9, Gabuya 5, Tagaloguin 4,Ciano 4, Sabando 4, Ponsica 2

Quarterscores:22-11;37-33;52-49;72-71 (FREEMAN)