27 October 2019
CEBU CITY—The Southwestern University (SWU) Phinma Cobras brightened their chances of securing a twice-to-beat bonus in the semifinal round after they defeated the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars, 95-80, on Sunday, October 27, in the college division of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament at the Cebu Coliseum.
The Cobras firmed up their grip of the number one spot after improving to 8-2 (win-loss).
SWU still have two games left in the double-round elimination and it will be against the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the tough University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters.
The three-time defending champion UV and UC are both in the running for the twice-to-beat bonus owing to their identical 7-3 records, good for joint second place.
Fully aware of the importance of the match, the Cobras were all business in the first half and erected a 49-40 cushion at the half. SWU didn’t relent in the third period and put the game beyond USJ-R’s reach via a 26-16 assault that gave them a huge 75-56 advantage with only one quarter left to play.
Shaq Imperial topped the Cobras with 22 points and was ably backed by Red Cachuela, Dyll Roncal and Lamine Thiam.
Cachuela finished with 17 points, while Roncal and Thiam wound up with 12 each.
Matthew Carin scored 16 points, Elmer Echavez and Renz Solomon donated 12 apiece for the Jaguars, who succumbed to their ninth loss in 11 games
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