PCGS, UV rule playoffs at 3rd BTC Cup cagefest

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS) played with class in two divisions, while University of the Visayas (UV) dominated the games at 16-under to emerge victorious in the playoffs of the 3rd BTC Cup yesterday.

St. Alphonsus Catholic School (SACS) also maximized its twice-to-beat advantage at 14-under, while the two teams of St. Paul Learning Center (SPLC) did the same at 10-under at Banilad Town Centre.

Meanwhile, Sotero B. Cabahug (SBC) Forum for Literacy and Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion (CIC) conquered the UV Baby Lancers at 12-under and will meet today for the finals in this 3-on-3 series presented by Thirsty and Dimsum Break.

The younger UV squad first bowed to SBC Forum, 3-4, after losing pointman Lyder Kent Canieso on foul, then to CIC Blue Angels, 8-11, after losing steam in overtime.

Ram Denzylle Pepito carried the Forums in overpowering the Lancers, even silencing gunman Canieso, as well as the Blue Angels scoring 5 total points in their 3-team one-round robin playoff.

While also silenced by the Forums and the Lancers during regulation, Blue Angels skipper Christopher Go stepped up during the 3-minute extension, scoring three crucial points as wingman Kelvin Demura matched the only 2 points the Lancers made.

In 16-under, it was a different story for the 16-under Junior Lancers as they swept all its three 1-round quarterfinal and the key semi-final games with Shawn Vincent Opolentisima bombarding 19 total points.

Opolentisima stepped up in the playoff, scoring 4 points in defeating San Isidro Parish School (SIPS), 9-5, then 6 marks in blocking PCGS, 10-6, and 3 hits in choking Centre for International Education (CIE), 7-6.

In the ensuing semifinals as the top-seed, Opolentisima fired 6 hits in the Lancers' massacre of the 4th-seed CIE Blue Lions, 9-2, in the tournament backed by Nike, Robinson's Supermarket and Nature Spring.

PCGS first edged CIE, 6-4, then SIPS, 10-8, in a heart-stopping overtime with Aldred Du orchestrating the game, scoring 5 during regulation that ended 7-all, and adding two during the extension.

In a rematch during the semi-finals with the Blue Lions earning the twice-to-beat advantage, Jean Ray Tejam took charge in overwhelming the Tamaraws, 10-6, scoring back-to-back hits from beyond the arc plus yet another goal.

Vince Bryan Cena led the last gallant stand of the Isidorians scoring 17 the whole day, including three jumpers and a desperate 2-pointer.

In the 14-under category, SACS and PCGS made good use of their advantage casually overwhelming their crossover challengers to arrange a finals match against each other in the league sponsored by Cherifer Growth Vitamins.

The Alphonsian Eagles were just too much for the CIC Blue Angels to handle as the SACS squad sucked out the energy of the CIC team, 10-6, with its big man Joshua Matthew Grijaldo banging 6 marks from the low post.

As the Eagles limited hitman Paul Christian Go to only two points, Steven Clien Maga took charge but managed only two lay-ups and a shot from beyond the arc.

PCGS played as a team of equals as the Blue Lions edged the SIPS Tamaraws, 7-6, with their play anchored on Karl Greyson Le who made three points from the low post.

In the 10-under, the SPLC Paladins showed why they are today's Marines of the medieval Charlemaigne court as their two squads limited the playoff to just one game each, ridding out their challengers.

Joshua Balankig and Ray Orville Ybañez played back-to-back again with two points each as their team denied any chance for the younger Tamaraws, 4-2, as Vic Varges and Andrew Man scored just a point each.

And so did Ian Miguel Abella and Prince Evan Sollano as they butted out the last team from Sacred Heart School (SHS) Ateneo de Cebu that only had Neal Anthony Peteros scoring two points.

The back-to-back wins of the two SPLC teams resulted in a sibling rivalry from a band of brothers in the 10-under finals made possible by Holy Kettle Corn and Tutoring Club.

Coach Norwin Honoridez told his boys to play for the best today like playing against the toughest team they will have had encountered. (FREEMAN)