UV, USC stamp classes in CYBL VisMin caging

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas and University of San Carlos served early notice of its readiness for the coming school year’s age group/grassroots tournaments as they struck gold in the CYBL VisMin Goodwill Games sponsored by Alaska at the Magis Eagles Arena at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Barangay  Canduman, Mandaue City.

UV squeezed past SHS-Ateneo, 50-48, to clinch the Under 15 division championship, while USC cruised to a 54-36 win over UV in the Under 12 division.

UV and SHS-AdC battled it out in a nip and tuck affair from start to finish. After enjoying leads of 13-10 and 29-22 at the end of the first two periods, UV found itself up by only two, 38-36 at the end of the third quarter. The final canto then turned into a shootout between UV’s Denzel Sabroso and SHS-AdC’s John Chen who kept their teams in the game in the dying minutes.

Sabroso gave UV a 46-40 lead with a booming triple with 6:43 left in the game before Chen replied to slice the lead to 46-43. A three point-play by Sabroso gave UV a 49-43 lead with 2:54 left. Chen then scored to slice the lead to 49-45 before James Zenarosa split his charities for a 50-45 lead, 1:45 left.

Chen stepped up anew with a triple to slice the lead to 50-48 with 46 seconds left in the game. Both sides couldn’t come up with another point after this, with UV missing three attempts in one possession, while Jed Colonia missed two free throws that could’ve tied the game with 3.4 second left.

Sabroso, a prized catch from Cebu Eastern College, led UV with 12 points, while Chen led SHS-AdC with 14 including 12 in the fourth quarter.

In the Under 12 final, it was an all-USC affair, dominating UV in every quarter through different leaders for a coast to coast victory. USC set the tone for the game by taking the first quarter 13-2 behind Brandon Largo’s eight points.

The lead ballooned to 24-10 at halftime as Tracy Dadang took over with six points. Justine Atilano and Kadshein Tagalog then scored six apiece in the third quarter for a commanding 39-20 lead after three periods.

The dominance took the life out of the UV side which couldn’t mount any counter to rally. Largo led USC with 13 points while Dadang and Atilano had 10 apiece. JZ Dizon led UV with 11.

The CYBL VisMin Goodwill Games sponsored by Alaska is an annual summer tournament featuring teams from the Visayas and Mindanao. Among the cities represented were Cagayan de Oro through Xavier University/Ateneo de Cagayan, Ormoc, Bohol, Tagbilaran, Bacolod and Iloilo. A total of 22 teams saw action: Nine in the Under 12 division and 13 in the Under 15 age group. (FREEMAN)