UV bows to Ateneo de Iloilo in BEST SBP Passerelle regionals

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— Ateneo de Iloilo proved steadier in the stretch as they stopped University of the Visayas, 42-35, to bag the SBP division championship of the Visayas Regional Finals of the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament 2015 backed by Milo. Meanwhile, Sun Yat Sen High School of Iloilo defeated Bacolod Tay Tung High School, 71-58, to win the Passerelle title.

UV kept the game close, trailing Ateneo de Iloilo, 3-6 and 11-13 after the first two quarters. Ateneo de Iloilo then went to the hot hands of John Vicencio in the third quarter who scored 11 straight points in the period to give AdI a 24-17 lead before Kerk Navarro and Daniel Padilla slashed the lead to 24-21 at the end of the third quarter.

After Ian Espinosa gave Adi a 26-21 lead to start the fourth quarter, Vicencio added his second triple to give Ateneo a 29-21 lead, enough breathing room that paved the way to the championship. The lead stretched to ten at 35-25 but UV never gave up.

Dirk Baguio and Christian Alilin drilled a triple each to cut the lead to 37-31 with 1:35 seconds left in the game. But Vicencio was there again to give the champions a 39-31 lead with 1:04 left.

Alilin made one last effort via a free throw and another triple to slice the lead to 39-35 with 23 seconds left. But when UV went on a fouling spree to stop the clock, it was Vicencio again who stepped up making two free throws for a 41-35 lead. Alilin went for another triple but this time hit the front of the rim.

Vicencio led Adi with 18 points while Ian Espinosa added 10. Alilin led UV with 10.

The highlight of the UV SBP team’s first ever trip to the regionals though was its winning the Sportsmanship Award. This is given to the delegation that demonstrates the best behavior among its players, spectators and supporters.

In the game for third place, St. John’s Institute dumped Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion of Roxas, 63-24.

In the Passerelle division, Sun Yat Sen went to its usual pattern of breaking down its opponents slowly but surely. After trailing 8-9 at the end of the first quarter, Sun Yat Sen took a 27-26 halftime lead then blew the game wide open by taking a 52-38 lead at the end of the third quarter behind Ervin Matulac’s 12 third period points.

It was cruise control in the fourth quarter as Tay Tung had no answer for Sun Yat Sen’s deep crew which had six players scoring in the final canto to thwart any form of rally.

In the game for third place, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu trashed the College of St. John Roxas, 65-23. After trailing CSJR, 10-14, the Magis Eagles stepped on the gas to take a 26-16 halftime lead. The lead ballooned to 44-18 after three quarters to settle the outcome. Mark EJ Dumandan led SHS-Ateneo with 10 points. (FREEMAN)