SWU-Phinma snares CYBL U18 title

CEBU, Philippines —  The Southwestern University-PHINMA Baby Cobras made up for its only defeat in the tournament by spewing its venom of its first round tormentor Batang Mandaragat, 85-49, to bag the championship of the Under 18 division of the CYBL Summer League Friday night at the Aznar Coliseum.

Still stunned from their 61-66 loss in the elimination round on their own homecourt, the Baby Cobras made sure the outcome would never be in doubt by opening up a 22-13 lead after the first period. Dezeo Villanueva led the charge with 13 points in the period, including three triples.

The halftime score was 43-33 as the sons of overseas seafarers hung tough despite being down by as many 16 points in the second period as SWU-PHINMA threatened to break the game wide open.

Then the floodgates finally burst in the third period as the wards of Coach Jerry Abuyabor went on a 16-4 tear for a commanding 57-37 lead midway through the third period to place the game out of reach.

The team’s diminutive point guard Kendall Limana took charge this time as he sank floaters for eight points in the period. Batang Mandaragat never found its groove and range in the second half as the Baby Cobras went to a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double digits led by Villanueva’s 16 points.

 Aljames Calizer added 14 points, including a buzzer-beating slam dunk to end the game that had the crowd roaring. Limana added 12 while Charles Libatog and John Jimwell Craus had ten apiece. James Llenes led Batang Mandaragat with 20 points while Allen Augusto added 13.

SWU-PHINMA also won the CYBL Summer League Under 18 title in 2018, and is now setting its eyes on the coming CESAFI season. Batang Mandaragat, which started out as a basketball clinic for children of overseas seafarers eight years ago, had its best season so far after joining the league last year.