Cobras log fourth straight victory in Partners Cup tourney

Games Thursday:

Cebu Coliseum

5:30 p.m. – Prime Asia vs. Ave Maria

7 p.m. – Lion Tiger vs. Gaisano Capital

THE SAN MARINO Corned Tuna-Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras snatched their fourth straight victory with a come-from-behind, 59-54, win over the Ave Maria Sanctuary and Park-University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars in the 5th Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Partners Cup Tuesday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The win put the Cobras’ record at 6-3 (win-loss), good for solo third place while the loss by the Jaguars dropped them down to 3-5.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Jaguars as they crumbled under pressure and squandered away an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth period.

Ave Maria fought hard in the third period as they overhauled a 21-24 halftime deficit with a sizzling 12-1 run led by the three-point sniping of guard Banjo Capillar. They ended that stretch on top, 44-33, seemingly comfortable with the lead.

However, the Cobras slowly made their way back into the game with baskets from Eleazar Armecin and Rene Pacquiao that sliced the deficit down to five, 45-50. Layups by Junrey Ortuyo and Bon Guillena later on placed the Cobras within one, 53-54. A three-pointer by Armecin from the corner put the Cobras up for good with 54 seconds left.

The Jaguars had several chances to retake the lead but failed to do so and free-throws by Monbert Arong and Pacquiao down the stretch sealed the deal for the Cobras.

Pacquiao topped the Cobras with 13, 10 of which came in that frantic fourth period comeback. Jezreel Brigondo was a surprise contributor with 10 markers. Nobody managed to reach double-digits for the Jaguars.

Today’s gameday will be highlighted by the matchup between the Lion Tiger-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Gaisano Capital-University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio