CEBU, Philippines - The University of San Carlos (USC) juggernauts rolled on and never stopped, winning the championship of the Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) division of the Milo-backed BEST Center SBP Passerelle Twin Tournaments 2012 for Cebu courtesy of a 67-31 win over Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu at the Aznar Coliseum last Sunday.
The win capped a dominating season for the Baby Warriors,who won all its seven games by an average winning margin of 34 points, outscoring its opponents in every quarter of all their games throughout the tournament.
The championship game was no different. USC took a 15-9 lead after one period, with Clint Octaviano and Joshua Canoy combining for 13 points. USC then broke the game wide open in the second quarter with Zurich Joshua Enriquez and tournament MVP Jholo Pakkana combining for 13 points as they cruised to a commanding 32-13 halftime lead.
Carl Jericho Jovellanos took over in the third quarter with eight points to lead the champions to a 53-22 edge after three quarters, putting the game out of reach. Enriquez continued with his shooting, drilling in eight more points in the fourth quarter, including six straight from the outside. Enriquez led the USC with 16 points while Jovellanos added 10. Rubick Bacao paced SHS-AdC with seven.
So dominant was USC throughout the tournament where they outscored their opponents 416-180, limiting the field to an average of only 26 points a game, while they averaged 59 points a game. This is USC’s first SBP title as a unified team of both the North and South campuses. USC South last won the SBP title in 2009 while USC North won in 2008. The team now seeks to replicate this dominance at the Visayas Regional Finals set on November 18-19 in Iloilo City.
In the game for third place, the University of the Visayas (UV) overcame a slow start before subduing Cebu Eastern College (CEC), 62-44. With CEC up 13-12 after the first period, UV’s second quarter unit gave UV the boost it needed courtesy of a 32-17 lead at halftime before the third quarter set upped the lead to 42-23.
Jose Zaldy Dizon Jr., Gabriel George Cometa and Zachlean Quilantang had 10 points apiece to lead the Baby Lancers to their best ever finish in the tournament ever since launching its SBP program two years ago. Melino Casio led CEC with 18 points.
It was a triple celebration for USC as USC North-C came from behind to nip USC South/St. Arnold, 41-38, to win the SBP division title of the CYBL D-League. USC South-B topped UV-B, 43-32, to rule the CYBL D-League Passerelle division. USC will now go for its fourth division title of 2012 when they see action in the semifinals of the BEST Center Passerelle division.
The scores
SBP Finals
USC (67) – Enriquez 16, Jovellanos 10, Octaviano 9, Canoy 6, Galan 6, Cutamora 6, Pakkana 5, Chavez 4, Berdin 3, Tagalog 2, Rodriguez 2
SHS-AdC (31) – Bacao 7, Macasling 5, Villarin 4, Mesina 4, Dumon 2, Celerinos 2, Navarro 2, Chua 2, Versoza 1 (FREEMAN)