Topseeds rule BTC Cup playoffs

CEBU, Philippines - The topseeds in four age categories of the 1st BTC Cup ruled the playoffs yesterday and will face off for the best-of-three championship series today.

PAREF Springdale School and University of San Carlos (USC) South will battle for the BTC Cup in the 16-under category after beating separate teams of St. Louis School of Mandaue (SLSM).

Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) will square off with USC North 1 in the 14-under while USC North's 12-under team 1 will play the winner between USC South 3 and USC North 2.

Sacred Heart School–Jesuits (SHS-J) and Southwestern University (SWU) will contest the 10-under division title.

Springdale 1 first bowed to SLSM Delta 6-7 in overtime in the first game of their 16-under match in the morning but recovered in the deciding game to win 9-6.

Francis Gerald Quintos carried his team with five important points in the deciding game. The Delta Cardinals handcuffed him with a swarming defense in the first game but he recovered his form after the break.

USC South also had the shock of their lives when SLSM forced overtime. Richcres Nwanaka, however, took over in the stretch after skipper Kerr Neil Belocura suffered a hard fall.

DBTC 4 frustrated the first squad of SHS-J 10-8 despite the latter’s spirited stand. DBTC defense zeroed in on Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw and that was the clincher. Team captain Niko Nemeño topscored for Don Bosco with six markers.

USC North 1 had to play a deciding game against sister team USC North 2 after losing the first game in overtime 9-11 with Benedict Aliser scoring five points. Skipper Rey Arnejo and wingman Arsenio Uy III rose to the occasion in the deciding game, however, with four points each to overwhelm their brothers 9-2.

The 12-under championship will be an all USC affair. USC North 1 subdued sister team 3 and is waiting for the winner between USC North 2 and USC North 3 for the title match. The two squads are still playing as of presstime.

In the 10-under cluster, SHS-J 1 eliminated sister team SHS-J 2 and will play SWU. The latter thumped USC North 10-5 earlier.

Games for third place start at 8:30 a.m. today. The first game of the best-of-three championship matches, presented by Dimsum Break and Nike Athletic Club, begin after the 9:30 a.m. mass at the BTC lobby. (PR)   (FREEMAN NEWS)