USC is Passerelle champs

CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos (USC) dethroned the University of the Visayas (UV) as Passerelle division champions of the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament 2013 at the City Sports Club Cebu Sunday. Using a huge second quarter uprising, USC stopped UV, 57-47.

 After a close first quarter where USC took a 14-12 lead, John Galinato led a torrid USC offense in the second quarter, leading a 12-0 run to kick off the period and outscoring UV overall, 22-8, for a comfortable 36-20 halftime lead.

But UV never gave up and made the game close as it bounced back with a counter rally in the fourth quarter. Down 43-28 at the start of the payoff period, UV closed the gap to 49-44 with 4:45 left behind the duo of Joshua Flores and Orlan Wamar.

Sensing danger, USC sued for time to regroup and recovered with an 8-2 counter run for a 57-46 lead with 31 seconds left in the game, with Galinato stepping up anew with two of the run’s four field goals. Galinato led USC with 15 points. Wamar led UV with 13 including three triples in UV’s rally.

USC thus will represent Cebu in the Visayas Regional Finals in Iloilo City on October 12-13. They face Bacolod champion University of St. La Salle, Iloilo titlists Ateneo de Iloilo and the champion from Roxas City.

In the game for third place, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) dominated Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), 76-41, also relying on big second and third quarter scoring splurges to score a repeat of their performance last year.

After being down 16-17 in the first quarter, the Magis Eagles zoomed to a 39-24 halftime lead and a 68-26 advantage at the end of three period to close out the game. Kier Clam led a balanced attack with 12 points, with all players scoring for the team. Steven del Campo led DBTC with 17.

The Milo-backed BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament is now on its 28th year of providing basketball competition for the Under 15 and 12 age groups. It is also supported by RCBC Savings Bank.  (FREEMAN)