UV five reaches semis in SBP U-16 hoop

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers Passerelle team is the topseed going into the semifinals of the SBP National Under-16 Basketball Championship in Baguio City, thanks to a big 98-71 win over St. Clare College of NCR, coupled with St. John’s Institute’s (SJI) bowing to La Union College of Nursing and Arts & Sciences (LUCNAS), 78-84.

 The race for the top two slots in Group A turned wild and wooly with the three teams ending up tied for the top of the group with identical 4-1 records since UV had bowed to SJI in overtime earlier, 91-99.

But since only the top two would qualify for the semifinals, the goal difference was used to break the tie with UV taking the top rank with a quotient of 1.0294 and SJI taking the second berth with a quotient of 1.0114. St. Clare ended with a 0.9567 quotient to drop out of the race.

The last of day of eliminations proved to be the nerve-wracking climax of UV’s drive in the group stage where it lost its first game to SJI. Determined to fight back to reach its goal of making the semis, the Baby Lancers trounced LUCNAS, 84-71, Holy Child of Davao, 81-68, and St. Agnes Academy of Albay, 88-50, in their succeeding games.

 UV faces University of Sto. Tomas (UST) in the crossover semifinals at 1 pmtoday, while SJI goes up against Group B topseed Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori of Cagayan de Oro at 3 pm.  (FREEMAN)