UV, SHS-Ateneo ready for SBP Passerelle regionals

CEBU, Philippines —  The University of the Visayas SBP and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Passerelle basketball teams are all ready for the Visayas regional finals of the SBP Passerelle Twin Tournament backed by Milo this weekend at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School in Bacolod City.

The teams left for Bacolod yesterday with an eye of making it to the national finals.

The Cebu delegation will face off against the different champions of their divisions from Bacolod, Iloilo and Roxas. UV will face SBP champions St. John’s Institute of Bacolod, Hua Siong College of Iloilo and Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion of Roxas.

On the other hand, the Magis Eagles will go up against Bacolod Tay Tung High School, St. Robert’s of Iloilo and HERCOR College of Roxas.

While Cebu has always been a favorite at the regional finals, Bacolod and Iloilo have been there to spoil the Cebuano party. Cebu won the SBP regional championship last year through SHS-Ateneo de Cebu, but Iloilo bagged the Passerelle championship with Hua Siong College.

When asked about their chances, coaches Ronald Bucao of UV and JC Nuyles of SHS-Ateneo de Cebu said that while the Bacolod and Iloilo teams are reportedly bigger, they are up to the challenge.

“UV will always go all out with our never die spirit. We have faced bigger teams in the regionals before and we will give them a tough challenge,” Bucao said.

“We have prepared for the bigger teams and will use out strengths to overcome this. Our target is to bring the Passerelle championship to Cebu after Iloilo won it last year and Bacolod in 2016,” Nuyles added.

The champion from the Visayas regional finals will qualify for the national finals that will be held in Pampanga on November 24-25.