Milo Best: SHSJ, USC-NC win in Visayas finals

CEBU – Sacred Heart School Jesuit (SHSJ) and the University of San Carlos North Campus (USC NC) kicked off their respective campaigns in the Visayas Regional finals of the BEST Center SBP/Passerelle twin basketball tournament in contrasting fashion at the West Negros University Gym.

The SHSJ Eagles served notice of its goal to win the Passerelle championship by defeating Ateneo de Iloilo (AdI), 71-61 in a battle of Jesuit schools, while USC NC couldn’t sustain its fiery fourth quarter rally as they bowed to Ateneo de Iloilo, 35-41 in the SBP division.

The Eagles jumped off to a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, and increased the lead to 12, 38-26 at halftime. AdI roared back to cut the lead to as low as three points 46-49 in the third quarter SHSJ recovered to post a 54-48 lead at the end of the period.

The Eagles regained their momentum in the fourth quarter behind the outside shooting of Gabe Branzuela and inside play of Borgy de la Cruz. Branzuela kicked off a 9-1 blitz with two straight triples while de la Cruz poured in four points in the same stretch to douse off the Ateneo rally.

Jerry Seno led SHSJ’s balanced attack with 14 points. Daryl Nazareno added 13 while Branzuela made 11. The Eagles were playing College of St. John of Roxas at presstime, and a win would assure SHS-J of at least a tie for slot in the finals which will be held today. Ateneo de Iloilo was playing St. John’s Institute of Bacolod in this four-team tournament.

In the SBP game, USC North started out cold and trailed Ateneo all game long. Down 20-28 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Baby Warriors leaned on its full-court press to stage a rally, coming within one, 30-31 with 3:39 left in the game. Ateneo, however replied with a 10-2 run that shut the door on USC -NC.

USC was playing Bacolod ’s Tay Tung School in a must-win situation at presstime. (PR) (THE FREEMAN)