USC wins 2nd straight SBP title

CEBU, Philippines - They saved their best for last.

In what is by far their most dominating game, the University of San Carlos (USC) stopped the University of the Visayas (UV), 70-25, to win the championship of the Small Basketeers Philippines division of the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo at the USC North Gym over the weekend.

After one quarter of an average start for the defending champions where they took a 17-10 lead, USC stormed to a 40-14 halftime lead behind the nine points of Joseph Berdin. They limited UV to only four points in that stretch.

The young Warriors of USC maintained their momentum in the third quarter where they took an commanding  60-19 advantage behind the duo of Juan Climaco and Mikhael Rusiana, who combined for 12 points.

The defending Cebu and Visayas champions managed to take its foot off the gas pedal in the fourth period to cruise to the win. In all, USC’s defense stood tall as it limited UV to single digit scoring in the second, third and fourth quarters. This was USC’s most dominating win after registering an average winning margin of 30 points in the elimination round.

ZJ Enriquez, who was later named MVP, paced USC with 13 points. Joshua Betinol added 10 points. USC will now represent Cebu for the second straight year in the Visayas Regional Finals set on October 13-14 in Iloilo.

This marks USC’s second major title of the schoolyear after winning the gold medal in elementary basketball of the Milo Little Olympics Visayas Regional Finals last week.

In the SBP game for third place,  Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu leaned on a third-quarter uprising to upend Don Bosco Technology Center, 42-39. 

After taking a slim 23-21 halftime lead, SHS-AdC went to their full court press in the third quarter to cause turnovers and take a 38-27 lead at the end of the third quarter behind the offense of Daniel Gillamac and Pauloh Villarin.

DBTC rallied in the fourth and cut the deficit to 39-36 but a free throw by Thirdy Navarro and a basket by Joel Requioma gave SHS-Ateneo a 42-36 breather with less than two minutes left in the game. DBTC had five trips to the free throw line, but could only come up with three made free throws for the final tally. Mark Aaron Abunawan led SHS-AdC with eight points.

In games of the Passerelle division, UV (6-0) locked up first place going into the semifinals with a 39-30 win over SHS-AdC and after topping USJ-R (0-4), 67-24. SHS-AdC (4-2) won over DBTC (1-3), 73-49, to end the elimination round at third place. (FREEMAN)