CEBU, Philippines - The Assumption College of Davao (ACD) led from start to finish to defeat the University of San Carlos North Campus ( USC NC ), 80-66, at the start of the CYBL-DYBL Tropang Growee Goodwill Games at the USC North Gym Tuesday.
ACD, which won the championship of the Davao Youth Basketball League (DYBL) Tropang Growee Cup last month, took control of the game early, opening up a 22-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-30 at halftime.
ACD then posted a 62-46 lead after three quarters before USC staged a rally, cutting down the lead to as little as eight points in the fourth period. ACD, however, retaliated behind the leadership of Henry Asilum and Zairil Carbonell, dousing any chance of an endgame rally from the hosts.
Four Blue Archers delivered in double digit scoring with Jefferson Roxas leading the attack with 18 points. Carbonell added 16, while Rudolph Zuniga and Asilum added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Michael Balankig and Tecson Gacrama led the hosts with 11 points apiece. The USC NC team was the champion of the Tropang Growee 13 Under Division of the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL) 2009.
The CYBL-DYBL Tropang Growee Goodwill Games is a joint project of the CYBL and the Davao Youth Basketball League (DYBL). Both leagues seek to establish an annual summer tournament featuring the best teams from Cebu and Davao .
“This is a good start for us. This goodwill games is only the beginning of more regional action between Visayas and Mindanao , something that both regions really need. We’re proud to have gotten this off the ground and this proves that local sportsmen, with the cooperation of the school-based teams, can get it done. We hope to bring in teams from Bacolod and Iloilo in our next series of games,” CYBL Tournament Director Rico Navarro said.
The visiting ACD Blue Archers are composed of a mix of 14 and 13 Under players and were rewarded with a trip to Cebu for winning the DYBL 2009 tournament. They will also face the 14 Under teams of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit and Don Bosco on their three-day visit to Cebu . The Davao delegation is led by DYBL Tournament Director Rael Diaz and ACD Coach Henry Asilum. (THE FREEMAN)