UV, SHS-Ateneo finish 1-2 in SBP hoop

The University of the Visayas and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu finished 1-2 at the top of the team standings in Small Basketeers Philippines division of the SBP Passerelle Tournament backed by Milo after games played over the weekend.

 UV defeated SHS-Ateneo A, 36-29, to grab first place to cap the elimination round, tying their victims with 4-1 records. UV is the top seed going into the semifinals due to the winner-over-the-other tiebreak rule, while SHS-Ateneo settles for the second seed.

But while the top two spots are clear, it’s still a tight race for the third and fourth semifinals spots with USC (2-2), Don Bosco (1-3), SHS-Ateneo B (1-3) and Southwestern University-Phinma (1-3) battling it out on the last day of the elimination round this weekend.

SHS-Ateneo B won over SWU-Phinma, 58-23, while Don Bosco also topped SWU-Phinma, 44-15, to set a face-off for the fourth spot. SHS-Ateneo A thwarted USC, 55-25, to drop USC to third place. USC faces SWU-Phinma also this weekend. A win by SWU-Phinma will muddle up the standings and will create a three-way tie for third and fourth places.

Meanwhile, UV and SHS-Ateneo A will be on waiting mode for their opponents in the 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 semifinals.

 In the Passerelle division, UV narrowly escaped defeat as they rallied and then banked on Joshua Canoy’s free throws with 10 seconds left to nip Don Bosco, 30-28. The Baby Lancers then defeated USC, 47-28, a day later to streak to a 5-0 record and solo leadership in the team standings.

In other Passerelle division games, SWU-Phinma was the breakout team of the weekend as they scored two straight wins, hacking out a come-from-behind win over Abellana National School, 55-47, and eking out a 69-61 overtime win over USPF. SHS-Ateneo crushed USC, 69-39.

The team standings see UV (5-0) at the top followed by SHS-Ateneo (4-0), Don Bosco (3-1), SWU-PHINMA (2-2), Abellana (1-4), USPF (0-4) and USC (0-4). While the top three slots to the semifinals are set, the fourth spot isn’t etched just yet.

 SWU-Phinma's last two games are against USC and Don Bosco, and is looking to extend its streak. Abellana and USPF face off next before USPF plays USC.

 The SBP Passerelle tournament backed by Milo will send the Cebu champions of both the SBP and Passerelle divisions to the Visayas Regional Finals which will be held November 19-20 in Roxas. Defending champions are UV in the SBP division and SHS-Ateneo de Cebu in the Passerelle division.