Cobras and Webmasters battle it out for top spot

The Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras and the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters will duke it pout for the top spot in the seniors division as the elimination round of the 19th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) men’s basketball tournament winds up today at the Cebu Coliseum,.

Southwestern U is currently on top of the leaderboard with a 9-2 win-loss record but the Webmasters, coming off an 81-72 triumph over the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats, are closely breathing down their necks with an 8-3 slate.

During their first round encounter last September 1, the Cobras stung the Webmasters by eight points, 66-58. That means that UC needs to beat SWU-Phinma in their 4:30 p.m. by at least nine points to gain top seeding going into the semifinals.

Regardless of the outcome though, both the Cobras and the Webmasters are already assured of a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

In the other collegiate games, the three-time defending champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers wil mix it up with the University of San JoseRecoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars at 6 p.m. while the CIT-U Wildcats and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF)

Panthers will tangle at 3 pm.

Sporting a 7-4 mark, the Lancers already locked the No.3 spot ahead of the 7-5 University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors while the Panthers (3-8), Wildcats (3-8) and the Jaguars (2-9) are already ousted.

In the juniors division, the Sacred Heart SchoolAteneo de Cebu (SHSAdC) Magis Eagles will try to keep their bid for the No.1 spot alive as they go up against the UC Baby Webmasters at 1:30 p.m. while the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons and the USJ-R Baby Jaguars will figure in a non-bearing match at 12 noon.

The Magis Eagles sent the Baby Jaguars packing via a 69-54 thrashing last Thursday night to assure themselves of a semis berth with a 7-2 card, good for third place in between the 8-1 Baby Webmasters and the 8-2 UV Baby Lancers.

The Magis Eagles of coach Rommel Rasmo, however, still have a chance to clinch the top spot if they pull off an upset over the league-leading Baby Webmasters.