Cobras, Baby Webmasters eye finals berths in CESAFI

CEBU, Philippines — The Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras and the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters hope to barge into the finals without any glitch as they take on separate rivals in the semifinal round of the 19th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum today.

Southwestern U will take on the fourth-ranked University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors at 6:45 pm, right after the Baby Webmasters collide with the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers in the 5:15 p.m. curtain raiser.

For emerging as elimination round topnotchers in their respective divisions, both the Cobras and the Baby Webmasters enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage. That means that they need only one win to advance to the championship.

Led by their foreign student-athlete Lamine Thiam, the Cobras of coach Mike Reyes seek to reaffirm their mastery over the Warriors, whom they swept in the double round elimination with a close score of 62-59 last September 21 and 66-61 on October 6.

Aside from Thiam, the Cobras can also count on the likes of Shaquille Imperial, Dyll Roncal, William Polican, Red Cachuela, and Gerald Fernandez as they seek for their first finals appearance in six years.

The Warriors, on the other hand, are expected to turn to Sommy Managor, Magic Marata, Froilan Mangubat, Jules Langres, Roosevelt Jelianggao, Kurt Trangia and Kenneth Brillo as they try to extend their season for at least a game.

In the juniors division, the Baby Webmasters seek a repeat of their 56-51 triumph over the Baby Panthers last September 28.

Just like their first meeting, the Baby Webmasters must brace for a dogfight against the hard-fighting Baby Panthers especially now that the stakes are higher in their rematch.

The Baby Webmasters will depend heavily on Isaiah Blanco, King Balaga, Maczi Micutuan, Kenvon Pondoc,  Allen Gako, and Luther Leonard, while the Baby Panthers will squeeze the most from Christopher Isabelo, Kyle Ochavo, Elijah Singson, Antonio Octaviano, Ramon Singson, Elian Yap, Jack Suello and Antonio Octaviano.