Ateneo, La Salle rule SBP/Passerelle

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and La Salle split the crowns disputed over the weekend in the Milo-sponsored Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP)/ Passerelle twin basketball tournaments organized by the Best Center (Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training Center) at the St. Pedro Poveda gym.

Ateneo, however, edged La Salle in gaining some measure of pride as it crushed the best squad its bitter rival from Greenhills could send, 77-37, to retain the SBP trophy in its Katipunan campus collection.

Twin brothers Michael Joseph and Joseph Matthew Nieto, sons of former Blue Eagle Jet Nieto who had played an instrumental role in Ateneo’s last back-to-back UAAP crowns in 1987-88 alongside Olsen Racela, Danny Francisco and Alex Araneta, exploded for a combined 31 points to lead their team to a repeat championship.

Michael Joseph was adjudged as the Most Valuable Player.

La Salle was a pathetic sight, as it played a disorganized game when Kobe Lorenzo Paras, son of former PBA center Benjie, failed to essay his usual numbers that sent the team into the championship game against Ateneo. Paras did not score a point, leaving the Greenies banking on Karl Justin Cura, who could only contribute a team-best nine points.

La Salle made do with the Passerelle crown, keeping the trophy it also won last year via a 70-55 demolition of San Beda College.

La Salle’s Thomas Christopher Torres was named MVP.

Nic Jorge, Best Center’s founding chairman and chief organizer of the event, was assisted by former Nestle Milo sports executive Jackby Jaime and young basketball star Jonas Villanueva in awarding the medals and trophies to the winners.