UV scores3-peat in Alaska caging

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas (UV) scored a CYBL “3-peat” after it blasted Cebu Eastern College (CEC), 73-55, to win the Under 16 Division 1 championship of the Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu 2014 last Friday at the Magis Eagles Arena of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in Brgy. Canduman, Mandaue City.

The deadly duo of Orlan Wamar and Joshua Flores showed the way for the Baby Lancers as they rallied after falling behind early on and finally break the game wide open for the big win and a third straight CYBL crown.

After being down, 17-25, at the end of the first period, Wamar caught fire in the second quarter with 10 points to cut the deficit to just one, 34-33, at halftime.

Flores took over in the third quarter with 12 points to give UV a 54-44 advantage heading into the final 10-minute mark of the contest. After padding the lead to 12 points midway in the final quarter, the last at 62-50, UV denied CEC any chance of making a comeback, even increasing their lead to 19 points, 69-50, with 2:56 left to play,  again with Wamar and Flores at the helm.

The fourth period turned out to be a UV vs. Denzel Sabroso show as Sabroso scored all of CEC's 11 fourth quarter points.

Flores and Wamar had 20 and 18 points, respectively, for UV. Sabroso paced  CEC  with 21.

UV had previously won the CYBL first conference titles of 2013 and 2012. CYBL’s 2014 edition, its seventh season, is now called the Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu.

 In other games, CEC-B won the championship of the Under 13 Division 2 by beating Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion Mandaue, 66-39. CEC-B banked on a big fourth-quarter uprising to settle the outcome after falling behind 24-27 at the break.

In games of  the Under 19 division, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu defeated University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), 87-72, but later bowed to the CVIRAA team, 74-88.

The Alaska Basketball Cup Cebu 2014 is a partnership with the Cebu Youth Basketball League, which is now on its seventh season. The partnership will also have an Alaska Basketball Cup/Summer League, which will start right after the holy week. (FREEMAN)