CEBU - The University of San Carlos-North Campus Team 1 beat the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit (SHS-J) Team 2, 11-6, in the final to seize the inaugural championship of the Cebu Growee 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the old SHS-J gym along General Maxilom Avenue, this city.
While SHJ-S was fortunate enough to enjoy a bye for the final battle through drawing of lots for the top three teams due to time contraints, USC-NC Team 1 had to dispatch first PAREF-Springdale, 14-5, before advancing into the final round.
Behind the hot hands of Lorenzo Piad, USC-North got off to a 3-0 start.
SHS-J tried to bounce back, but its attempts were swatted away by USC-NC’s big and tall frontman France Bautista.
Bryan Deniega of USC-NC also made his presence felt in the court by contributing some points that kept their fourth player Clint Uy on the bench.
A three-pointer by Piad iced USC-North 1’s victory.
With his sterling performance, Piad took home the MVP award of the one-day event that attracted 43 entries from different schools here. He automatically made it to the Mythical 3 alongside teammate Deniega and SHS-J’s Xavier Catan.
Springdale of coach Peter Sta. Maria, which is composed of Kyle Yusingco, Enrique Benedicto, Paolo Padilla and Ace Gocuan, finished third, while USC-North Team 3 placed fourth based on points. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)