CEBU, Philippines - It was mission accomplished for the classification phase as the University of San Carlos (USC) SBP team outgunned Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 46-21, for its fifth straight win to sweep the opposition in the elimination round of the SBP division of the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament 2013 Cebu Provincial Finals sponsored by Milo.
Meanwhile, defending Passerelle division champion University of the Visayas stunned USC, 49-38 to also take leadership of the Under 15 division.
USC, which is touted to repeat as Cebu champs this year, kicked off the game with a 17-5 lead at the end of the first quarter to set the tone for the rest of the game. The lead stretched to 25-11 at halftime and 35-16 after three quarters. ZJ Enriquez, who had 10 points to lead the first period run, led the team with 16 points. In other SBP division games, Cebu Eastern College (CEC) downed USJR, 64-23, while UV defeated Don Bosco, 40-30.
In a rematch of last year’s Passerelle finals, UV yielded the first quarter to USC at 12-9, then held USC at bay in the second quarter limiting them to only a field goal, taking 17-14 halftime lead.
Orlan Wamar took over in the third quarter, scoring eight points to give UV a 29-23 lead going into the fourth quarter. UV then controlled the tempo of the game with a triple each from role players James Eduard Zenarosa and Mike Anthony Bayaton that sandwiched a Dominic Jan Morre field goal that gave UV a 37-26 lead, a gap that they never gave up.
USC cut the lead down to six twice, but Wamar stepped up anew with clutch baskets and free throws to stop the rally and seal the win.
In other the other Passerelle division game, SHS-AdC outscored CEC, 59-43.
UV now leads the Passerelle division at 3-0, trailed by SHS-AdC (3-1), USC (2-1) CEC (2-2), Don Bosco (1-2), SWU (0-2) and USJR (0-4).
The BEST Center SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament is on its 28th season of providing a venue of competition for the Under 15 and Under 12 age groups nationwide. The Cebu champion will face off against the champions from Bacolod, Iloilo and Roxas for the Visayas Regional Finals, with the Visayas champion qualifying for the national finals. The games are also held in cooperation with RCBC Savings Bank. (FREEMAN)