UV leads the way in SBP Passerelle tournament

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas maintained its hot pace, recording its third straight win by overcoming Don Bosco Technology Center, 36-27, in an SBP division game at the SBP Passerelle Tournament sponsored by Milo at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Avenue campus over the weekend. Following a game behind in the SBP division was SHS-Ateneo de Cebu which went 2-0 through a 44-10 win over rookie team Southwestern University-Phinma. Meanwhile, the University of San Carlos bounced back from its debut loss and eked out a 40-36 win over SHS-Ateneo B also in the SBP division.

The duo of Franc Gabunada and Daniel Padilla combined for 15 points to vault UV to a 3-0 record. fter taking a slim 10-7 lead after one quarter, and getting some breathing room at halftime, 20-13, UV broke the game open in the third quarter by limiting Don Bosco to just two points for a 32-15 count.

Don Bosco rallied in the fourth but didn’t have enough firepower to get past the pre-tourney favorites. Sid Reroma led Don Bosco with 15 points.

SHS-Ateneo used a strong second quarter to stop SWU-Phinma, blanking the rookie team in the period to take a 28-4 halftime lead. It was cruise control to the win with Joseph Dytian leading a balanced offense with nine points.

USC’s first win in two games didn’t come easy as they had to overcome an upset-conscious SHS-Ateneo B side which kept the game close from start to finish. USC took quarter leads of 5-10, 16-18 and 22-27 before the Magis Eagle B team tied the game at 32-all in the fourth quarter. Jose Angelo Centino and Justin Betinol then took over in the endgame to seal the win. Betinol led USC with 15 points.

In the Passerelle division, UV, Don Bosco and SHS-Ateneo each recorded their second straight wins in as many games to create a three-way tie for first place.

UV stopped Abellana National School (1-2), 44-21, with Osias Padilla leading a balanced attack with seven points. SHS-Ateneo trounced Southwestern University-PHINMA (0-1), 61-29, as LA Casinillo and Maynard Uy combined for 19 points. Don Bosco went to the combined efforts of Michael Amista and Kadshein Tagalog who were good for 12 points, to squeeze past USC (0-2), 45-40, in a tight game.

In games of the CYBL U18, SHS-Ateneo cruised past UV-Mandaue, 51-24; Punta Princesa CBA debuted with a 43-31 win over St. Alphonsus Catholic School; and Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology defeated WJC, 59-40. (FREEMAN)