CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars gun for a share of collegiate division lead when they go up against the Southwestern University-Phinma (SWU) Cobras in the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.
A victory by the Jaguars over the Cobras in their 5:30 p.m. duel would catapult them atop the leaderboard alongside the pace-setting University of San Carlos (USC) with a clean 2-0 slate.
The Jaguars opened their campaign with a 37-point rout of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, 97-60.
In sharp contrast, the Cobras fell prey to the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters who are now handled by their former coach Raul 'Yayoy' Alcoseba.
The Jaguars pin their hopes of pulling back-to-back wins on their fighting five in Jaybie Mantilla, Nelvin Navarra, Ricky Peromingan, Miguel Gastador and RJ Dinolan.
Coach Jun Noel can also count on Albert Catiloc, Victor Nunez and prized recruits Kido Cabrera and Jan Mangaron to help carry their offensive load.
The Mike Reyes-mentored Cobras, on the other hand, will heavily depend on the likes of Jovanie Luz, Shaq Imperial, Mark Racho, Gerald Fernandez, Edmundo Bayhonan, Arnel Molina and William Polican, among others.
In the juniors level, four-time champion Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-Adc) Magis Eagles, the University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers and the Don Bosco Greywolves all shoot for their second straight victory.
The Magis Eagles will tangle with the CIT-U Wildkittens in the second game at 2:30 p.m., while the Baby Lancers and the Greywolves will clash head-on in the 1 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Magis Eagles blew past the hapless University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 93-50, in their opening assignment, the Baby Lancers overcame the gritty Wildkittens, 68-62, while the Greywolves tamed the Baby Warriors, 73-63.
In the other juniors match, the Baby Panthers and the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons hope to barge into the win column but only one of them will survive in their 4 p.m. duel. (FREEMAN)