Champs title playoffs start
HOPING to flash its champion form anew, La Salle tries to get back at surprise Final Four tormentor Southwestern University at the start of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) title series today.
The Cobras shocked the Green Archers at the start of the round-robin semifinals and La Salle coach Juno Sauler expects the Cebu-based squad to go hard at them again in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“Southwestern is a very strong team,” said Sauler. “They play very hard, they play tough. So we just have to review what we did wrong, see what we can take advantage of and hopefully we can execute our game plan.”
SWU coach Yayoy Alcoseba, arguably the most decorated mentor in the Visayas, expects to face a vengeful La Salle side, a week after his Cobras stunned the reigning UAAP champions, 68-58, in overtime.
“Baka tambakan kami (We may be outplayed),” Alcoseba said in jest. “Going up against Manila teams is always very hard. Not only are they big, they’re like a machine. We’ll see what will happen.”
Serving as an appetizer to the title series is a benefit juniors game between Tiong Lian champion Hope Christian High School and NCAA runner-up La Salle Green Hills at 2 p.m.
Sauler said the Archers need to keep in check SWU guard Mark Tallo, the MVP in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) who had a brief stint with La Salle.
“He has improved a lot the last time I saw him,” said Sauler. “He added another dimension to his game and that’s something we also have to watch out for.”
Behind Tallo, Monbert Arong and Cameroonian center Landry Sanjo, the Cobras claimed the first finals berth by pulling off another upset over Far Eastern U, 86-71, last Thursday.
The Archers wrapped up their own semifinal run with a thrilling 64-60 escape over four-time NCAA champion San Beda.
Jeron Teng buried the go-ahead basket to finish with 23 points, while Jason Perkins and Almond Vosotros also helped the Archers clinch the winner-take-all encounter for the last title slot.
