Cobras, Wildcats seek first win

CEBU, Philippines - The Southwestern University-Phinma (SWU) Cobras and the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats gun for their first win but only one of them will achieve that goal as they clash head-on in the 17th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men's basketball tournament today at the Cebu Coliseum.

Both listless in two starts, the Cobras and the Wildcats will face off each other at 6:45 pm, right after their juniors counterparts collide in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

After stumbling in the season-opener against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters last August 6, 49-59, the Cobras got mangled by the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 88-103, for their worst ever start in five years.

The Wildcats are going through the same travail. Just two days after absorbing an 72-82 defeat at the hands of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers, they were decimated by the Jaguars, 60-97.

As they try to end their two-game jinx, the Mike Reyes-mentored Cobras are expected to squeeze the most from their old reliables in Jovanie Luz, Shaq Imperial, Mark Racho, Anton Pardo, Arnel Molina, Daryl Nazareno, Gerald Fernandez and William Polican.

The Wildcats, on the other hand, will rely on Steven Bucao, Mark Kong, Mariel Muñez, Kristoffer Mumar, Niño Rosell, Kerr. Nemil, Jasper Berezo and Vincent Laguna among others in their bid to join the winners' circle.

In the juniors division, the Baby Cobras shoot for their second victory in three games while the Wildkittens, like their big brothers, hope to recover from back-to-back setbacks. (FREEMAN)