DEFENDING champion Southwestern University stopped University of the Visayas, 68-64, to move a step closer to the finals in the 13th Cesafi men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at the Cebu Coliseum.
SWU beat UV, 70-66, in their first encounter this season and made it two-for-two on Tuesday as the Cobras broke the game wide open with a run early in the fourth canto and survived several lapses in the endgame. The Green Lancers have not beaten the Cobras since Game Three of the championship series last year.
Mark Jayven Tallo scored 21 points, while African import Landry Sanjo had 18 points and 14 rebounds for SWU.
Meanwhile, University of San Carlos logged in their first win in the round-robin semifinals, routing the University of San Jose-Recoletos, 80-62.
Stephen Que led the Warriors with 21 points, while Ahmed Salihou had 19 points and 14 boards.
USJ-R was led by the 19 points of rookie Rendell Senining but it was not enough as the Jaguars remained winless in two games.
The game was headed towards a rout early in the third as the Cobras zoomed to a 41-30 lead. But the Lancers trimmed the deficit to just two, 45-47, after a three-pointer by Chris Perolino and a floater by John Abad.
SWU started the fourth with a 10-0 run behind Tallo and Sanjo, whose fastbreak bucket gave the Cobras a 57-45 lead with 7:12 left.
John Abad scored 16 points for the Lancers, while import Mike Nzuesseu and Franz Arong had 12 points each.
The scores:
First Game
USC (80) - Que 21, Salihou 19, Ortega 10, Magat 6, Pepito 6, Guardiario 5, Amin 5, Rabat 4, Laude 4, Plata 0, Adlawan 0, Oleodo 0, Lim 0.
USJ-R (62) - R. Senining 19, C. Parker 12, Galvez 7, Tabaloc 4, M. Parker 4, Regalado 4, Sanchez 4, C. Senining 2, Bayhonan 2, Lajato 1, Villarosa 0, Rosell 0, Cinco 0, Nogas 0.
Quarterscores: 16-12; 34-30; 54-46; 80-62.
Second Game
SWU (68) - Tallo 21, Sanjo 18, Mohammed 10, Bregondo 9, Arong 3, Goloran 3, Siewe 2, Otida 2, Panerio 0, Ortega 0.
UV (64) - Abad 16, Nzuesseu 12, Arong 12, Escosio 9, Perolino 8, Cabañero 2, Fajardo 2, Codilla 2, Octobre 0, Villamor 0, Akomo 0, Mendoza 0, Marquez 0.
Quarterscores: 20-18; 34-28; 47-45; 68-64.