Milo little olympics: USC sweeps basketball, takes lead

CEBU, Philippines -  The University of San Carlos scored a rare double back-to-back championship in the basketball event  to take the top spot in their respective divisions after Day 3 of the 19th Milo Little Olympics Visayas Finals yesterday at the Magis Eagles Arena in Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu campus in Canduman, Mandaue City.

USC is now on the driver’s seat in the secondary level with 139.25 points on the unofficial points tally, followed by University of Cebu with 97.25 points as University of the Visayas is temporarily at third place with 52 points.

Carolinians kept their lead in the elementary division with 123 points, while Subangdaku Elementary School zoomed to second place with 66 points and SHS-AdC at third place with 51.25 points.

USC boy’s secondary squad pulled off a 58-52 victory against UV that contributed big in climbing to the top spot in the standing.

USC went off to a good start, taking control in first quarter with a 19-5 rally. UV rallied in the second quarter trimming the lead down to five points, 19-24.

Carolinians once again stormed in the third quarter as UV tried to rally but fell short giving away the six point win to USC. Steven Angelo Del Campo and Kent Moral combined for 32 to lead USC.

Host team SHS-AdC defeated Compostela National High School, 61-42, for the bronze medal.

In the elementary division, USC managed to withstand a furious fourth quarter rally of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, 56-49, to get the crown.

A three-point play from Kadshein Tagalog with 1:49 left in the game gave USC some breathing room to win the game. UV grabbed the bronze in the elementary division following a 53-38 win against Cebu Eastern College.

At MetroSports Badminton Club, USC ruled both the secondary boys’ and girls’ finals against Southwestern University squads. The sweep further pad USC’s lead in the team standings. Carmen National High School got the boys’ bronze and UC on the distaff side.

USC also got a silver medal in the elementary girls’ with Banilad Elementary School dominating both the girls’ and boys’ finals. Paref Southcrest ended with a bronze.

Banilad dumped Maslog Elementary School in the girls’ championships while Danao Elementary School got the bronze.

Over at the SHS-AdC’s old campus, Subangdaku Elementary School had all the reasons to celebrate following a double championship title in volleyball.

Subangdaku under coach Dino Aribal scored an upset as they dethroned powerhouse Catmon volleyball girls squad, who have been dominant for a very long time.

Subangdaku posted a 25-22,21-25,25-26 victory over the multi-titled Catmon girls before its boys took away a lopsided 25-8,25-6 triumph over Moalboal. USC got third in the girls’ side and Pardo in the boys’ division.

In the secondary volleyball finals, the University of San Jose-Recoletos had a 1-3 finish with its girls’ team taking away a hard-earned five-set triumph over the equally talented Pajo volleyball girls, 25-24, 18-25, 25-19, 22-25,15-9.

Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School won the secondary boys’ gold over the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 25-23, 20-25, 25-13,25-23 while USJ-R claimed the bronze over Arcel Memorial National High School in Liloan, 25-17, 26-24. USC got the bronze in the boys’ class over SHS-AdC, 26-24,25-16.

SHS-AdC looks forward this weekend’s resumption of the two-weekend sports conclave bankrolled by Nestle Philippines, with their gold medal round battle against PAREF-Springdale in the secondary football.

SHS-AdC outsmarted Don Bosco Technology Center in the semifinals, 2-1 via extension while Springdale grabbed a 3-1 win against Abellana National School also in the extension.  (FREEMAN)