Early faves score in SBP-Passerelle

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo de Manila-A and Notre Dame of Greater Manila installed themselves as the early Small Basketeers Philippines favorites after big wins at the start of the Milo-sponsored SBP-Passerelle twin tournaments organized by the multi-awarded Basketball Efficiency and Scientific Training (BEST) Center over the weekend.

Ateneo-A routed San Beda College-Alabang, 74-46, for its debut win in SBP-B, where it was joined on top by Xavier School, which walked over Colegio San Agustin-Makati.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, dealt San Beda College-Rizal a 34-21 thumping for the SBP-C lead, which it shared with Lourdes School-Quezon City, which also won by default over Chiang Kai Shek College.

SBP-A had Don Bosco Technical Institute-Makati trouncing San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 46-5, and Lourdes School-Mandaluyong blasting De La Salle-Zobel B, 59-20.

SBP-D saw Marist School-A over School of St. Anthony, 67-17, and De La Salle-Zobel A over La Salle Greenhills-B, 59-20.

The Passerelle tournament also had the favorites registering early wins with (Group A) Marist over DBTI-Makati, 45-41 and Xavier over DLS-Z A, 62-36; (Group B) LSGH-B over DLSZ-B, 57-36, and San Beda College-A over Kids World Christian Academy, 100-51; (Group C) CKSC over St. Mary’s College, 77-54, and Grace Christian College over SBC-Alabang, 47-32, and LSGH-A over Paref-Southridge School, 77-28; (Group D) Claret School over St. Paul College-Makati, 67-40, and Notre Dame of Greater Manila over SBC-Rizal B, 77-52, and University of Santo Tomas over Xavier School-B, 84-38.

The Philippine Basketball Association’s Jonas Villanueva, who plays for the B-Meg Llamados and the league’s three-time All-Star PBA Skill Challenge champion, was the special guest during the short opening ceremony. The Best Center and SBP alumnus joined Milo sports executive Robbie de Vera and former Milo executive Jackby Jaime in inspiring the young athletes to strive hard in achieving their goals in life and in sports.