CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos Green snagged the first championship of the Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu 2014 when it beat USC Gold, 44-34, in the Under 10 final at the USC North Gym Thursday.
USC Green took an 11-4 lead after one quarter, but faced stiff opposition from USC Gold, which kept the game close and cut the deficit to 21-16 at halftime.
After leading 32-25 at the end of the third period, USC Green pulled away for good in the fourth period behind the shooting of Justin Betinol, who led USC Green with 26 points. Sid Reroma added 11. Tyke Abella led USC Gold with nine points.
In the other championship game, Don Bosco Technology Center-B edged out University of the Visayas-B, 64-60, to win the Under 16 Division 2 title.
DBTC-B was in control of the game, taking a 46-38 lead into the fourth period when UV-B staged a rally and tied the game at 54-all.
It was nip and tuck from then on until Angelo Delcampo took over for the Greywolves to seal the win. Delcampo had 19 points to lead DBTC-B, while Arljun Minerva led UV-B with 12.
In an Under 13 Division 1 semifinals game, Antonio Czar Octaviano scored with 5.2 seconds left in the game to lead USC Green past UV, 69-67.
With UV leading 68-67 after Joze Zaldy Dizon’s free throws with 11.4 seconds left, Octaviano found an opening and drove down the center for the game winning shot and the bonus free throw.
Deanmark Rondina led USC Green with 12 while ZJ Enriquez added 11. Osias Andrew Padilla led UV with 16. USC Green will face either CEC or Holy Spirit in the gold medal match.
The Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu 2014 is a partnership with the Cebu Youth Basketball League, which is now on its seventh season. To be played this weekend are the championship games of the Under 16 and Under 13 age groups under Division 1. UV will face CEC in the finals of the Under 16 Division 1. (FREEMAN)