UV, SHS-AdC, USPF win in CloudFone Batang PBA

CEBU, Philippines - The Univeristy of the Visayas cruised to a comfortable win, while SHS-Ateneo de Cebu and the University of Southern Philippines Foundation had to sweat it out before scoring victories on opening day of the CloudFone Batang PBA Cebu tournament at the Cebu City Sports Institute yesterday. UV overcame a slow start to stop the rebuilding Don Bosco Technology Center, 59-43, while SHS-Ateneo used a fourth quarter surge to outlast USC, 69-62. USPF rallied to score a 92-86 win over Abellana National School.

 UV broke open a close game in the third quarter when the Baby Lancers streaked to a 51-28 lead coming off a 25-17 halftime cushion. Jose Zaldy Dizon drilled in 10 points in the third period including two triples as he combined with Joshua Canoy who had eight in the same period to push UV ahead for good. Canoy and Dizon had 15 points each to lead UV, while Christian Boyboy and Juan Miguel e la Torre had 18 and 16 points, respectively for the Greywolves.

 In a rematch of the 2015 BEST Center Passerelle finals, SHS-Ateneo went to a balanced attack and a timely end-game surge to seal the win. The game was close all the way until the midway in the fourth quarter.

It was a balanced scoring attack for SHS-Ateneo through Joshua Fuentebella’s 11 points, Mark Dumandan (11) and Coco Tuadles (10). Genald Iñigo led USC with 15 as Clint Octaviano scored 13.

 In the last game, USPF rallied from a 22-point deificit to outscore an upset-conscious Abellana National School, 92-86.Winston Ynot led USPF with 25, while GabrielCometa had 22 and Christopher Isabelo 21. — (FREEMAN)