CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas bagged a second trophy in the Cebu Youth Basketball League as it overcame Cebu Eastern College, 51-47, for the Division 1’s Under 15 championship at the Lux Oriens Gym in Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Canduman, Mandaue City.
The win though didn’t come easy as CEC stage an end-game rally that just fell short. After taking leads of 15-11 and 23-19 after the first two quarters, UV streaked to a 37-23 lead at the end of the third quarter behind the leadership of Royce Alforque who accounted for eight of the team’s 14 points in the quarter.
The UV defense also stopped the CEC offense, limiting them to only four points. But CEC didn’t give up, drilling four triples to rally, narrowing the gap to only two, 47-49, on a triple by Vhan Joshua Baruc with 20 seconds left in the game. But Alforque found Osias Padilla underneath the basket for a gimmy to give UV a 51-47 lead with four seconds left for the final score.
Joshua Canoy led UV with 18 points, including four triples. Alforque added 10. Kendrick Abarquez led CEC with 12. This was UV’s second title in the CYBL Season 8 after also winning the championship of the Under 10 division.
In the title game for Division 2’s Under 12 age group, St. Alphonsus Catholic School/Lapu-Lapu City defeated Monterey School of Talisay, 58-41.
Leigh de la Torre paced SACS with 16 points while Hans Baguio added 12. Fabian Camacho led Monterey with 12 points. In a regular game of the Division 1 Under 18 age group, the USC Baby Warriors surprised the USC B Warriors, 66-64.
Clint Octavianio led the Baby Warriors with 15 while Jholo Pakanna added 12. Adi Gaviola led the USC B Warriors with 12.