The USC Lady Warriors, fighting under Team Venture, overcame a spirited resistance by the gritty University of Cebu-Trifonic to defend its women's crown by the slimmest of margins, 6-5.
USC was leading most of the way until UC rallied back to forge a 4-all deadlock with 1:27 left.
Lou Regidor broke the standoff to make it 5-4 for USC, but UC's Shirley Brown converted her shot to knot the count anew, 5-all, with 12 ticks remaining before the final buzzer.
The spunky Regidor, however, completed his endgame heroics by drilling in a jumper to seal USC's triumph.
A few minutes later, it was their male counterparts who stole the limelight as the USC-Riance trounced the previously undefeated University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF)-Jumpstop, 11-7, to grab the title.
Ironically, it was former USP Baby Panther Dennis Earvin Ferraren who is now taking charge of USC's offense, powering the Warriors to an early 8-2 lead. USPF failed to recover from that point on.
Aside from taking home P20,000 worth of Adidas products, the USC squads also earned the right to represent Visayas to the national finals set on August 12 at SM Mall of Asia.
The national champions will carry the fight for the Philippines come the Asian Finals before the year ends in Guangzhou, China. - with Marigold Libumfacil Correspondent