SWU Cobras strike down FEU Tamaraws, enter PCCL Finals

(Updated 4:11pm) The Southwestern University Cobras earned their first Philippine Collegiate Champions League Finals berth with a win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 86-71, Thursday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

The Cobras' starters carried their teams to victory, and had well-balanced stat lines to show for it. Monbert Arong exploded for 23 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Landry Sanjo recorded 19 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Mac Tallo tallied 16 points and seven assists, and Adam Mohammed chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and four assists.

SWU dominated the Tamaraws on both ends of the floor, turning an initial nine-point deficit to a 15-point lead by halftime, which they used to fend off FEU until the final buzzer.

Cobras mentor Yayoy Alcoseba revealed that prior to the game, the PCCL already booked them return airplane tickets to Cebu, scheduled to leave tomorrow morning. "Hindi pa kami nakararating, paaalisin na kami! Ano, uuwi na ba tayo?" Alcoseba said animatedly. But he said he was proud of the way his players delivered.

The Cobras are only the second non-Manila team to reach the tournament finals since the University of Visayas Green Lancers made it back in 2007, and will play the winner of this afternoon's DLSU Green Archers-SBC Red Lions duel.

Alcoseba said that he has no preference between the two, saying only that it would be an uphill climb. "Whenever you play a Manila team, they're always tough. They're like a machine," he said.

The Tamaraws pounced on yet another slow start by the Cobras in this tournament. FEU pushed the tempo to catch SWU off-guard, as Carl Cruz paced them for a 15-6 advantage. With three minutes to play in the period, Mac Tallo hit a long trey and gave the Cobras a lift. SWU then went to a halfcourt press, which netted them turnovers for easy layups reducing their deficit after the initial 10 minutes to two, 16-14.

The Cobras kept their momentum heading into the second period, carried by hot outside shooting by Melvin Holper and Monbert Arong, 27-21. The Tamaraws were shut out of the paint, but managed to get their second field goal on an Anthony Hargrove put-back, 27-23, at the 4:50 mark. However, late defensive rotations often left them vulnerable inside, allowing Mac Tallo and Adams Mohammed to attack the rim for 10 of their last 15 points, establishing a 43-27 lead at halftime.

SWU was 16-of-40 (40 percent) from the field versus the Tams' 10-of-36 (27.8 percent) clip. The Cobras also led in second-chance points (10-4) and turnover points (13-5).


Both teams pushed the pace in the third quarter, where the Cobras went up by as much as 19 points off back-to-back hits by Landry Sanjo. But their mood immediately sobered when Gryann Mendoza and Achie Inigo scored nine straight from long-range at by the 4:30 mark, 50-40.

The Cobras called timeout and arrested the skid, opting to milk Sanjo for points in the paint. Arong carried some of the load with a three-pointer and an and-one play, and the pair scored 13 of their side’s last 15 points to reinstate a 65-50 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Mike Tolomia didn't let FEU go down without a fight, torching his defenders for nine straight points in the fourth, to make it a single-digit game, 67-59. The Cobras then slowed down the game for Arong and Sanjo to carry them against FEU's zone, and weathered sporadic shooting by Mendoza, 76-64, with less than two minutes to play.

Gryann Mendoza top-scored for FEU with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Carl Cruz and Mike Tolomia had 15 and 14 points respectively, and combined for 13 rebounds. Anthony Hargrove totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


Quarter scoring: 14-16, 43-27, 65-50, 86-71