UV stuns USC for SBP championship

CEBU, Philippines – In a classic finale that included loads of drama, switching twists, scoring runs, and tense-filled moments, the University of the Visayas stunned the University of San Carlos, 66-64, in double overtime to win the SBP division championship of the 2015 BEST SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament sponsored by Milo.

UV started out hot, gave up control of the game three times but recovered just in the nick of time to score the nail-biting win and their first ever SBP championship. UV jumped to a 27-18 halftime lead before USC rallied to slice the gap to 36-31 by the end of the third quarter, setting the stage for a wild, wooly and cardiac finish.

After Christian Alilin drilled a triple to give UV a 39-31 lead, USC slowly but surely worked their way back into the game, going on an 11-3 run to tie the game at 42-all on  basket by Ben Ferraren with 42 seconds left. Nicael Cabanero gave USC its first taste of the lead at 44-42 with six ticks left, sending the USC fans into frenzy. But UV refused to die down with Karl Cua sinking a putback after a miss by Alilin to tie the game at 44-all and sending the game into overtime with one second left in the game.

USC had the upper hand in the first overtime period enjoying a 52-46 lead on a lay-up by Reinhard Jumamoy with 56 seconds left in the game. UV got closer at 52-48 courtesy of a free throw each from Alilin and Matheus Omamalin, the latter with ten seconds left. With USC smelling victory, UV’s diminutive point guard Dirk Baguio stole the inbound pass intended for Jumamoy, made a twisting lay-up and drew a foul for a 52-50 scoreline with three seconds left in the game.

Baguio missed the bonus free throw but Alilin recovered the loose ball and made a lay-up to send the game into a second overtime period at 52-all, one second left. The second overtime period was a UV show at the start as they jumped to a 63-57 lead with 1:27 left in the game. Jumamoy then stepped up with back-to-back triples to tie the game at 63-all. Nicael Cabanero gave USC back the lead via a free throw at 64-63 with 44 seconds left. But again, UV stepped up to the plate and never gave up. Franc Gabunada made a lay-up with 33 seconds left for a 65-64 UV lead before adding a free throw for the final tally, 66-64, seven ticks left.

Alilin led UV with 16 points while Omamalin chipped in 13. Jumamoy and Cabanero had 15 and 13 points, respectively for USC. UV won its first ever SBP division title and dethroned the three-time defending champions USC.

They will represent Cebu at the Visayas Regional Finals which will be played in Bacolod November 7 to 8.

In the game for third place, SHS-Ateneo de Cebu trashed USJ-R, 55-33. Uriel Avila led the Magis Eagles with 12 while Joseph Dytian added 10. Sebastian Bacus poured in 18 points for USJ-R. (FREEMAN)