UV, USC, SHS-Ateneo make Finals in CYBL VisMin Games

The University of the Visayas  sent its two teams, while the University of San Carlos  and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu  sent a team each in the finals of the CYBL VisMin Goodwill Games sponsored by Alaska.

In the Under 12 division semifinals games played at the Magis Eagles Arena at the SHS-AdC Campus, UV outhustled SHS-AdC, 45-37, while USC Green cruised to a 75-57 win over Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. Meanwhile in the Under 15 division, UV toppled Cebu Eastern College  64-46, while SHS-AdC eliminated USC, 63-50.

In the Under 12 games, UV started out slowly, building a 14-11 lead after one quarter then limited SHS-AdC to only one point in the second quarter to seize control of the game as it established a 25-12 halftime lead. The lead was stretched to 37-21 at the end of the third quarter.

SHS-AdC mounted a rally in the fourth period, slashing the lead to eight points at one point, but UV countered just in time to seal the seat in the finals. Group A top seed USC Green also banked on a second period scoring to oust the visiting team from Cagayan de Oro.

After a close 12-8 lead at the end the first quarter, USC Green slowly but surely put the game away, taking a 36-24 lead at the half before cruising to a 59-34 lead going into the fourth quarter. USC Green and UV thus forged a rematch of the Cebu SBP championships of 2013.

In the Under 15 division, UV and SHS-AdC, the top teams from Group B, toppled the top teams from Group A to set a second showdown in these games sponsored by Alaska.

Group B top seed went hot and cold against CEC. After taking a 21-8 lead in the first period, UV allowed CEC to rally and slash the lead to 31-26. But the Passerelle Lancers recovered to break the game open, taking 53-34 lead into the fourth period.

Group B second seed SHS-AdC which had bowed to UV earlier in the tournament, stunned USC by jumping to a 20-11 lead after one quarter. It was a margin that was maintained throughout the game with the Magis Eagles keeping the Baby Warriors at bay.

 The SHS-AdC/CYBL Goodwill Games, backstopped by Alaska, is an annual pre-season tournament for the Under 15 and 12 age groups featuring teams from Cagayan de Oro, Tagbilaran, Ormoc, Iloilo and Bacolod.

The goodwill games brought in nine teams in the Under 12 division and 13 teams in the Under 15 division.