USC, SHS- Ateneo seal title clash

CEBU, Philippines – The University of San Carlos and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu sealed a championship showdown in Division 1 Under 12 age group of the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL).

USC got back at University of the Visayas, 40-29, while SHS-Ateneo de Cebu ousted Don Bosco Technology Center, 78-37, in the semifinals played at the Magis Eagles Arena of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu in Baranagay Canduman, Mandaue City.

UV earlier upset USC in the SBP division finals of the Milo-backed SBP Passerelle twin tournament last August, making the USC win sweeter. USC bounced back to defeat UV twice in the CYBL games.

In the Under 10 division quarterfinals, fourth seed UV defeated DBTC, 34-22, and will face next top seed Monterey School of Talisay in the semifinals.  In the other semis duel, it will be second seed USC North facing sixth seed USC South.

In Division 2 games, the Magis Eagles racked up two wins in the Under 15 age group. SHS-AdC 2 eliminated St. Alphonsus Catholic School (SACS), 71-48, while SHS-AdC 3 ousted UV Mandaue, 98-76.

USC North B is the other team already seeded in the semifinals, while USC South B and DBTC-B face off for the fourth semis slot.

In the Division 2’s Under 12 semifinals, SACS cruised to a 53-17 win over DBTC-B to earn a finals berth. They will face the winner of the Monterey-Ormoc match-up.

The CYBL will wrap up the games for the Under 10, 12, 15 and U18 (Division 2) age groups next week, while the Division 1’s Under 18 games will run until early February.

The tournament drew a total of 73 teams spread over four age groups. The teams were divided into two divisions. Division 1 is for the competitive teams, while Division 2 is for the challenger and developmental teams.

This is the school-year’s season ending tournament with a summer league and a VISMIN Goodwill Games on tap for the summer. (FREEMAN)