SHS-Ateneo, USC win in SBP Passerelle opener

CEBU, Philippines -  Pre-tournament favorites Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) and University of San Carlos (USC) scored convincing victories on opening day of the Milo-backed BEST SBP/Passerelle Twin Tournaments 2012 for Cebu at the SHS-AdC Gym in Canduman, Mandaue.

Back-to-back champion SHS-AdC cruised past Don Bosco Technology Center, 67-19, while USC ran over University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), 87-23, in games of the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) division.

Not to be outdone, the University of the Visayas (UV) served notice of its being a challenger to the two favorites by beating Cebu Eastern College (CEC), 45-26.

With these wins, SHS-AdC, USC and UV are now being touted to be the teams to beat this year.

In games of the CYBL SBP Passerelle D-League, USC South went 3-0 on opening day via three strong wins. USC South/St. Arnold topped USC North-C, 61-45, while USC South/St. Joseph shut down USC North-B, 49-18 in the SBP division.

In other D-League games of the SBP division, SHS-AdC-B beat Don Bosco Magone, 35-26, while Don Bosco Savio won over NISSI Academy, 51-24.  

USC South earned its third win of the day as USC South-B defeated SHS-AdC 2, 61-40, in the CYBL D-League Passerelle division. Don Bosco-B outscored USJR-B, 50-44 in overtime in the other game.

The BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournaments sponsored by Milo and the CYBL D-League had a joint opening, drawing some 35 teams in both the SBP (Under-12) and Passerelle (Under-15) divisions.  (FREEMAN)