SHS-Ateneo de Cebu splits opening games

ROXAS CITY ,Philippines  — The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) met contrasting fates during the opening day of the Visayas Regional Finals of the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo. The Passerelle team opened its campaign with a 69-35 win over Sun Yat Sen High School of Iloilo, but its SBP squad bowed to St. John’s Institute (SJI) of Bacolod, 34-48.

Starting out slowly, the three-time Visayas Passerelle champion took a slim 11-7 lead after one period. The second quarter upped their lead to 26-15 before they finally took control of the game in the third period, taking a commanding 42-27 edge into the fourth quarter. It was cruise control from then on.

Hynric Ochea and Laeil Medalle had 13 points each to lead the Magis Eagles. Rendell Senining added 10 markers.

In the SBP game, the Magis Eagles started out well, matching the pre-tourney favorites with the game tied at 16-all after one period.

But SJI fired up to take a 29-21 lead after two quarters, then limited SHS-AdC to only one point in the third period for a 42-22 lead going into the fourth. The Bacolod champions slowed down somewhat in the fourth period but SHS-AdC’s rally wasn’t enough. This was SJI’s second straight win over SHS-AdC including a pre-season game last June.

In the other Passerelle match, SJI-Bacolod crushed Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion (CPC) of Roxas, 70-39. Ateneo de Iloilo dumped CPC-Roxas, 56-29 in the other SBP match. Both SHS-AdC teams are defending champions here with the Passerelle squad seeking a four-peat and the SBP team seeking a repeat.   - (THE FREEMAN)