SHS-J, USC-South rule Milo BEST twin cagefest

CEBU, Philippines - The Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) and the University of San Carlos (USC) South Campus are this year’s champions of the Milo-backed BEST SBP/Passerelle Twin Tournaments. SHS-J scored its third straight Passerelle division title after overcoming USC North, 92-80, while in the Small Basketeers Philippines class, USC South dethroned USC North, 56-46.

Both wins, however, didn’t come easy as both squads had to overcome mid-game rallies to bag their crowns.

In the Passerelle game, SHS-J started out hot to take the first quarter 25-12 behind the troika of Kris Porter, Rebreb Diputado and Franz Gabuya.

USC North then countered in the second period when SHS-J had to field four players with a player in sickbay. The Baby Warriors cut the lead down to 43-39 at halftime then sustained the rally to close the gap further 62-61 after three quarters.

USC North’s rally actually gave them their first taste of the lead at 53-51 in the third. SHS-J then retaliated with a mini rally to salvage the one-point lead entering the last period.

It was all-Sacred Heart show in the fourth quarter as they surprised USC North with 12-2 run to take 74-63 lead behind the squad of Porter, Diputado, Jessienete Wahing, Bradley Bacaltos and Adrian Muller. Not to be outdone, USC North replied with a torrid three-point shooting demonstration by Benedict Aliser and Anthony Romaguera, but the closest they could get was at 86-77.

Muller led a band of four Eagles with double digits with 19 points. Porter added 12, while Bacaltos and Diputado had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Harvey Palapar led USC North with 16 points. Aliser chipped in 12 while Romaguera added 11.

In the SBP duel between sister schools, USC South surprised the defending champs with a defensive gameplan that made life difficult for USC North’s top guns.

USC South took a 15-12 and 27-21 lead after two quarters, with Carlo Ortega, Rhoxel Tamarra and Juneou Franz Antigua leading the offense.

USC North came back to tie the game at 37-all after three periods through Kent Malazarte’s ten points. USC South raced to a 45-40 to start the fourth period, but USC North came back to tie the game at 45-all.

Carlo Ortega then scored on a three-point play and Rhoxel Tamarra made two free throws for some breathing room at 50-45.

After Shann Tan split his charities to cut the lead to 50-46, Ortega came up with a crucial steal and lay-up to seal the win with 40 seconds left.

While SHS-J has now won three straight Passerelle division championships, USC South overcame a three-year title drought to win another SBP championship. They last won a title in 2006. Both teams will represent Cebu in the Visayas Regional Finals in Roxas City on October 24-25.

The scores

Passerelle

SHS-J (92) – Muller 19, Porter 12, Bacaltos 11, Diputado 10, Abbu 6, Go 6, Gabuya 6, Wahing 5, Abbu 5, Cadavis 4, Co 4, Araw-araw 3, Tecson 2, Saldo 2, Yu 2

USC NC (80) – Palapar 16, Aliser 12, Romaguera 11, Malana 9, Ortega 6, Uy 6, Bongo 4, Pajantoy 4, Balankig 3, Arnejo 3, Piad 3, Bacaltos 2. Quarterscores: 25-12, 43-39, 62-61, 92-80.

SBP

USC South (56) – Ortega 15, Tamarra 12, JF Antigua 10, P. Galinato 6, Satorre 4, Mayordo 3, Dosdos 2, JJ Antigua 2

USC North (46) – Malazarte 10, Tan 9, Pestaño 5, Padilla 4, Sotto 4, Aballe 2, Suelto 2, Co 2, Curvo 2, Cimafranca 2 (FREEMAN NEWS)