UV faces USC again in Passerelle finals

CEBU, Philippines - Defending champion University of the Visayas (UV) and the University of San Carlos (USC) topped their semifinals opponents to set up grudge final rematch in the BEST Center SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo. UV stopped Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), 54-30, while USC overcame Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), 58-48.

UV jumped on DBTC at the start, taking a 21-10 lead after one period behind 15 points of Joshua Flores. UV stretched the lead to 33-18 at halftime, then limited DBTC to only five third quarter points for a commanding 48-23 lead going into the fourth quarter. Flores led UV with 17 points.

In the other semifinal match-up, both USC and SHS-AdC started cautiously with USC taking a 13-5 lead after one period. The second quarter saw USC increase the lead to 28-16 with Clint Octaviano leading the charge with 10 points in the run. USC maintained the lead at 45-33 after the third quarter. SHS-AdC fought back in the fourth period by going to their three-point shooting, but this wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. Octaviano led USC with 10 points.

Meanwhile, games of the CYBL D-League went full blast in three separate venues: DBTC Gym, USC North Gym and the SHS-AdC Mango Avenue Campus Gym.

St. Benedict Child Learning Center scored its second win in as many games in the Under 10 division, recording a close 25-23 over DBTC-B. In the other Under 10 game, USJR won over USC South, 36-28.

In games of the D-League SBP division, USC North-B went 3-0 with a 57-24 victory over DBTC-C. USC South-B also went 3-0 with a win over Virgen de las Escuelas Pias School (VEPS), 63-31. USC North-C broke into the win column by topping St. Benedict, 36-24. USJR-B scored a 29-27 squeaker over DBTC-B as  Thumbs Up 1 beat USC South C, 40-32.

In the D-League Passerelle division, SHS-AdC C debuted with a 50-28 win over DBTC-B, while Thumbs Up 2 scraped past USC North-B, 63-60.

The CYBL D-League is the developmental league of the SBP Passerelle schools. It features some 35 teams spread in three age groups: Under 10, SBP (Under 12) and Passerelle (Under 15). This is on top of the 13 regular teams playing in the BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo. Venue partners are DBTC, USC North and SHS-Ateneo de Cebu. (FREEMAN)